Department for Transport

Aviation: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on quarantine for people entering the UK of the COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on 20 May 2020.

Kelly Tolhurst: A number of EU Member States have border restrictions currently in place, including requirements for quarantine and self-isolation. EASA published operational guidance for the aviation sector on 20 May. It aims to support airports and airlines to put in place health measures to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 during air travel for passengers and staff as far as possible, such as through enhanced hygiene practices and social distancing in airports where possible. However, it recognises that the risk of transmission cannot be fully eliminated. The UK published its own aviation health guidance on 11 June.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of the covid-19 quarantine on the aviation industry.

Kelly Tolhurst: The decision to introduce these regulations, which form part of the wider border measures package, was taken in close consultation across a number of departments. The Secretary of State for Transport has held extensive discussions with Cabinet colleagues.

Driving Instruction: Coronavirus

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when driving instructors will be able to resume teaching of learner drivers following the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recommends that, currently, approved driving instructors (ADI) should only provide lessons to candidates who have an essential need. When providing driving lessons, all ADIs should put in place appropriate measures, in line with the latest Public Heath England and Cabinet Office guidance, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. It is the responsibility of the ADI and the pupil to consider the risks to their health and to decide if the driving lesson is essential. Using the latest Government guidance, the DVSA is working closely with the Approved Driving Instructors National Association Strategic Partnership (NASP) to develop appropriate plans and control measures that will enable the resumption of non-essential driving lessons. The DVSA is working closely with the Department for Transport to prepare for a safe return to driver testing. Before practical driving tests are reintroduced, the DVSA will inform the driver training industry, which will help candidates to prepare and reach the standard of driving needed to pass their test. The DVSA will provide further updates on providing non-essential driving lessons as soon as it can.

Driving Tests: Coronavirus

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to reopen the driving test booking system.

Rachel Maclean: As the health and safety of staff and customers is key, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is currently working hard to prepare for a safe return to testing.At present, its testing services are under review and it will announce details of resumption in due course.Before practical driving tests are reintroduced, the DVSA will inform the driver training industry. This will help candidates prepare and reach the standard of driving needed to pass their test.

British Airways: Coronavirus

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policy on the regulation of slot allocation at Heathrow airport of BA's proposals on making its pilots redundant and rehiring them on different terms as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Kelly Tolhurst: Terms and conditions of employment are for negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their representatives). The Government is not part of these discussions and cannot comment on commercial decisions taken by individual companies. The UK’s independent slot coordinator, Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) is responsible for allocating slots at UK airports and the Government is legally prevented from intervening in this process. We want airport landing and take-off slots to be used as efficiently as possible for the benefit of UK consumers and are carefully considering the role of the slot system in rebuilding a competitive aviation sector.

Members: Correspondence

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the letter of 30 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Glasgow East, ref DL5648.

Chris Heaton-Harris: As you will understand, the Department is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible. All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible. A response to your letter of 30th April was sent on 11th June.

Airlines: Coronavirus

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2020 to Question 55045, how the Government plans to define value for money for taxpayers when assessing whether to make interventions in the airline industry in the event that airlines find themselves facing financial difficulties as a result of covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government has been clear that we will only consider bespoke support for businesses once all other avenues have been exhausted, including the economy-wide support announced by the Chancellor. In considering whether there is a case for providing additional support, we would look at factors such as whether the business makes a material contribution to the economic activity of the UK and the equitable and fair treatment across businesses in the sector. Any support that is offered will follow the government guidance on Managing Public Money.

Stena Line: Coronavirus

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the financial support that will be allocated to Stena Line through the Critical Freight Grant on the (a) Birkenhead-Belfast, (b) Liverpool-Belfast, (c) Heysham-Belfast, (d) Cairnryan-Belfast and (e) Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry routes for nine weeks from 11 May 2020.

Kelly Tolhurst: Public Service Obligation (PSO) Agreements were awarded to Stena Line on four routes, including Cairnryan-Belfast and Harwich-Hook of Holland. No Agreements were awarded on the routes between Birkenhead-Belfast, Liverpool-Belfast or Heysham-Belfast. The value of the awards will depend on actual revenues and service level requirements during operation. The estimated value of the PSO Agreements at the point of contract award have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union and are as follows:PSO Agreement between Cairnryan and Belfast: £1,077,597PSO Agreement between Harwich and Hook of Holland: £1,608,003

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) discussions and (b) other engagement his  Department has had with train operating companies on the extension of Emergency Measures Agreements on rail franchises; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Emergency Measures Agreements provide franchise operators with a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreement’s financial mechanisms for an initial period of 6 months, with options for further extension or earlier cancellation as agreed. Ministers and officials have regular engagement with rail franchisees and the wider rail industry, to inform the work underway within government to determine the most effective approach once this 6 month period ends.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether the Emergency Measures Agreements on rail franchises will need to be extended beyond the current agreed date of September 2020.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Emergency Measures Agreements provide franchise operators with a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreement’s financial mechanisms for an initial period of 6 months, with options for further extension or earlier cancellation as agreed. Work is underway within government to determine the most effective approach once this 6 month period ends. This work will take account of the impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how much each train operating company will receive as payment during the six months of Emergency Measures Agreements.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Franchisees will be paid a maximum of 2% of the cost base of the franchise before the COVID-19 pandemic began, payable as a lump sum at the end of the initial 6-month Emergency Measures Agreement period. A proportion of the fee will be conditional on operators meeting performance, passenger experience and efficiency targets.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of all emergency measures agreements on rail franchises.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government has approved £3.5 billion of additional expenditure to ensure that vital rail services continue to operate. Of this additional expenditure, £2.9 billion relates to the 2020/21 financial year. It is not yet possible to provide an estimate of the total cost incurred to date.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements will be made for Parliamentary scrutiny in the event that his Department seeks to extend emergency measures agreements on rail franchises.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Work is underway within government to determine the most effective approach at the end of the initial 6 months period of the Emergency Measures Agreements. This work will take account of the impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway. The Secretary of State shall continue to keep Parliament informed of developments.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provisions have been made for operators of last resort to take over rail franchises that become financially unviable.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department routinely monitors the financial health of all operators in accordance with their respective franchise agreements. The Department’s Operator of Last Resort team also has the capacity and capability to step into Train Operating Companies where necessary in accordance with Section 30 of the Railways Act 1993.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of extending the emergency measures agreements on rail franchises.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Emergency Measures Agreements provide franchise operators with a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreement’s financial mechanisms for an initial period of 6 months, with options for further extension or earlier cancellation as agreed. Work is underway within government to determine the most effective approach once this 6 month period ends. This work will take account of the impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway.

Public Transport: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Transport Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID), published on 4 June 2020 on gov.uk, whether the exemption from wearing a face mask on public transport for people with breathing difficulties applies to people with asthma.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We expect everyone to wear a face covering if they can, but recognise reasonable adjustments are necessary for some people. Exemptions will apply to those with breathing difficulties and other respiratory conditions including asthma, as well as other groups.

Driving Tests: Coronavirus

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will publish guidance for driving instructors on when the suspension of driving tests due to the covid-19 outbreak will be lifted.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working closely with the Department for Transport to prepare for a safe return to driver testing. It will announce details of resumption in due course.Before practical driving tests are reintroduced, the DVSA will inform the driver training industry, which will help candidates to prepare and reach the standard of driving needed to pass their test.

Bus Services: Coronavirus

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether bus drivers are required to wear face coverings when driving during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The regulation only applies to passengers, not to workers. Operators should continue to follow the practical steps we have set out in our guidance to ensure their workplaces are COVID-19 secure. Operators should continue to make sensible workplace adjustments, for example introducing screens and providing hand sanitiser.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what revenue funding the Government provided from the public purse to (a) Thameslink, (b) c2c, (c) Southern, (d) Chiltern, (e) South Western Railway, (f) Greater Anglia, (g) Southeastern, (h) Gatwick Express and (i) London Northwestern Railway for (i) March, (ii) April and (iii) May 2020.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government has approved £2.9billion of additional expenditure during the 2020/21 financial year to ensure that vital rail services continue to operate. This expenditure covers all train operators with franchise agreements with the Department for Transport. However, individual TOC payments have not yet been finalised for all of the above periods.

Public Transport: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of exempting people with disabilities unable to wear face masks from the recent Government requirement for people to wear face masks on public transport during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We have undertaken an Equalities Impact Assessment and have taken advice from the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, as well as other disability stakeholder groups. We expect everyone to wear a face covering if they can, but recognise reasonable adjustments are necessary for some people. Exemptions will apply for those unable to wear a face covering, for example people with disabilities, those with breathing difficulties, or young children.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Economic Situation: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a green and sustainable economic programme on the level of economic recovery after the covid-19 outbreak.

Kwasi Kwarteng: As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient.The UK has shown that growing our economy and cutting emissions can be achieved at the same time. We have grown our economy by 75% while cutting emissions by 43% over the past three decades. Low carbon businesses and their supply chains support hundreds of thousands of existing jobs and will be key to future job growth.Many of the actions we need to take to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2050 will support the future growth of our economy.The Government recently launched a £40 million venture capital fund to supercharge the development of next generation clean, low-carbon technologies, and since lockdown was announced, we have published the first stage of our Transport Decarbonisation plan and have announced a £2 billion package for cycling and walking.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency have received income under the feed-in tariff in the last five years for which figures are available.

Kwasi Kwarteng: There are 2616 domestic homes in the Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency registered for feed-in tariff payments in Ofgem’s Central FIT register.

Pre-payment: Meters

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households in (a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK have prepayment meters; and what the change in the number of such meters was in each of those areas over the last five years.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The latest Ofgem data on Prepayment Meters (PPM) shows that there are 4.3 million customers using PPM meters, which represents around 15% of all customers in Great Britain. Neither Ofgem nor the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy routinely collect regional PPM customer numbers However, in 2017 BIES collected a one off local authority area breakdown, which showed there were 460,529 PPM customers in Scotland, 14,008 PPM customers in the Falkirk Council local authority area and 13,143 for the West Lothian Council local authority area. This data does not include customers who pay for their gas using a PPM as this data has not been compiled, however there are fewer gas PPMs as a whole in the market. The number of Prepayment Meter accounts in the GB energy market over the last five years has remained around 4.5 million. There has, however been an increase in competition in the PPM market over the past five years with PPM specialists providing greater choice for consumers beyond the six large suppliers. A cap on PPM prices was introduced in April 2017 and remains in force.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason Ofgem has halted work on the electricity charging reform.

Kwasi Kwarteng: There are currently two Significant Code Reviews (SCRs) that are the focus of Ofgem’s work on electricity charging reform: the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) and the Access and Forward-Looking Charges Review (Access SCR). Ofgem indicated in its forward work programme update, which was published on 16th April 2020 and is available at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ofgem-information-energy-licensees-coronavirus-covid-19-response, that work on both the TCR and Access SCR will continue to be progressed. In addition, National Grid Electricity System Operator has been leading a task force at Ofgem’s request to consider the future of balancing services charges. As part of its reprioritisation in April 2020 of the forward work programme, Ofgem has paused some activities including the Balancing Services Charges Task Force. This decision was taken to enable stakeholders and Ofgem to prioritise the response to coronavirus. The Task Force will resume work in July 2020.

Retail Trade: Coronavirus

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending the prohibition under regulation 6A(1) of The Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012 to include minimum payment surcharges by retail merchants to their customers as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: Business are generally free to set out acceptable terms of payment from consumers.For most retail payments, the Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations ban merchants from charging a fee in addition to the advertised price of a transaction on the basis of a consumer’s choice of payment instrument (for example, consumer credit or debit cards, or e-money). The cases in which surcharges are banned are set out in regulation 6A(1). The Government is examining a range of ways to support businesses and consumers in these difficult times, but there are no plans to review this legislation at present.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Coronavirus

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that local enterprise partnerships play a key role in regional economic recovery after the covid-19 outbreak.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government chairs an Economic Recovery Working Group, bringing together representatives of local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, and Combined Authorities. This Group works with local regions to understand the full scale of the challenges they face in the short to medium-term. We are not starting recovery planning from a blank page. Through the Local Industrial Strategies programme, Local Enterprise Partnerships have done excellent work to develop an evidence base and to scope long-term priorities for their areas. In the short-term, we encourage partners to prioritise those issues their existing strategies –have not considered. This will include how to restart the economy whilst maintaining social distancing in line with Government guidance.

Hydrogen: Carbon Emissions

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will undertake a consultation on how clean hydrogen can help cost-effectively decarbonise the UK economy.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Government is committed to exploring the development of hydrogen as a strategic decarbonised energy carrier, alongside electricity and other decarbonised gases. There are a number of workstreams underway in this area, involving regular engagement with industry and academic stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain to understand the potential of hydrogen deployment across the energy system, in line with our net zero commitments. A recent example is the newly formed Expert Group advising on the development of sustainable business models to support low carbon hydrogen production. Specific policies and programmes may be subject to consultation in due course. We are currently considering options for formalising regular engagement between Government and Industry on hydrogen, with the key aim of stimulating activity in the 2020s that will test potential of hydrogen in meeting net zero.

Research: Publishing

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the potential financial effect on the higher education institutions of UK Research and Innovation's review of its Open Access policy.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if UK Research and Innovation’s review of Open Access policy is independent from the work of the cOAlition S consortium.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the UK Research and Innovation’s review of Open Access policy will be considered as part of the work undertaken by the Department’s research sustainability taskforce.

Amanda Solloway: The Government’s university research sustainability taskforce is examining how best to respond to the challenges for the sector resulting from COVID-19, with the aim of sustaining the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery from COVID-19 and beyond. Given the broader focus and urgency of addressing the impacts of COVID-19, at this time, the outcome of the UKRI Open Access Review does not form part of the taskforce's consideration.  The OA Review is independent from Plan S. Working internationally however, is important to help achieve open access. UKRI has joined cOAlition S, a consortium comprising research funders and foundations from across the world and supported by the European Commission and the European Research Council. The coalition aims to help make full and immediate Open Access to research publications a reality, and is built around the Plan S principles. UKRI will consider outcomes of the work of cOAlition S as part of its ongoing Open Access Review alongside other evidence and inputs. The outcomes of the review will determine decisions on UKRI’s OA policy. As part of the UKRI open access review, UKRI is working with BEIS to consider implications for stakeholders. UKRI has commissioned an independent analysis to help assess the possible implications for various groups, including higher education institutions. This analysis will include direct costs and benefits and wider social and economic implications, and will be considered alongside other evidence gathered through the review, including via the consultation on a proposed UKRI policy which has recently closed. The consideration of the COVID-19 impacts on research sector, including economic implications, will be taken into account in the UKRI review.

Yell Group: Regulation

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what contact his Department has had with regulatory agencies on the business practices of Yell Ltd.

Paul Scully: The Department has not been in contact with regulatory agencies in connection with the business practices of Yell Ltd. Business-to-business contract disputes are generally a matter for the parties involved, except in a small number of regulated sectors. We would encourage any business that is being offered a service to read the contract carefully, and research the reputation of the service provider before making any commitment.

Post Offices: ICT

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will commission an independent judge-led investigation into the Post Office and its (a) management and (b) administration of the Horizon computer system.

Paul Scully: Government has committed to launching an Independent Review to consider whether the Post Office has learned the necessary lessons from the Horizon dispute and to assess its work to rebuild its relationship with its postmasters. The findings outlined throughout the Horizon judgments provided an extensive insight as to what went wrong at the Post Office, including an independent view of the facts all sides have been looking for. Government wants to be fully assured that the right lessons are learned for the future and concrete changes have taken place at Post Office Ltd to ensure that this situation will never be repeated. This is the purpose of the independent review we are in the process of setting up. Full details of the Terms of Reference for the independent review have been set out in a Written Ministerial Statement that Minister Scully made on Wednesday 10th June. An independent chair will be announced in due course

Carers: Barnsley Central

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that unpaid carers working in Barnsley Central constituency are supported to remain in work.

Paul Scully: The Government recognises the crucial role unpaid carers play, especially during this difficult period. On 8th April we published guidance for unpaid carers on GOV.UK, which includes general advice on infection control, advice on caring where someone has symptoms, how to create care plans, make alternative care arrangements at short notice and access links to various NHS resources. We have provided additional funding to Carers UK’s helpline, information and support services, to help more carers access trusted information and advice. We also continue to signpost carers to the charity’s website for additional information and support during this pandemic. We are committed to supporting carers in Barnsley Central and across the country to remain in work, recognising the challenges of balancing work and care also in the longer term. This is why the Government is now consulting on proposals to introduce Carer’s Leave, to support working people who are also carers to balance employment with their caring responsibilities. This Government is also clear about the benefits of flexible working for employers and for their employees, including those with caring responsibilities. In our manifesto we said that, subject to consultation, we would introduce measures to make flexible working the default.

Employment: Social Distancing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that employers are following guidance on social distancing in the workplace for employees who are (a) clinically extremely vulnerable and (b) clinically vulnerable.

Paul Scully: The guidance is non-statutory but does not change existing obligations relating to health and safety, employment, or equalities. Employers have a duty under UK law to protect the health and safety of their workers and other people who might be affected by their business. This includes considering the risks that COVID-19 represents. Employers should carry out a risk assessment in consultation with their workers to inform what actions to take, to give the best combination of protection from their usual risks as well as the risks of COVID-19. Employers should consider whether workers who are classed as either clinically extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable are exposed to any specific risks. If so, they should take the steps needed to protect those individuals. Health and safety legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and by local authorities. If the enforcing authority finds that an employer is not taking action to properly manage workplace risk, a range of actions is open to them including specific advice or issuing notices.

Offshore Industry: Coronavirus

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the quarantine of oil and gas workers, whether the quarantine exemption for people who are required for the continued safe and secure operation, maintenance and essential support services for offshore oil and gas infrastructure in the UK applies to workers (a) entering the UK to operate on infrastructure domestically, or (b) returning to the UK having conducted the same commercial activities in other EEA nations.

Kwasi Kwarteng: In line with many other countries, the Government has introduced a series of measures and restrictions at the UK border which are supported by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, to contribute to keeping the overall number of transmissions in the UK as low as possible. These measures came into effect on 8 June. A small proportion of people required to maintain essential supply chains, critical national infrastructure or to contribute to the crisis response have been made exempt from the requirement to self-isolate. Offshore workers undertaking, or required to commence, activities in the UK and on the UK Continental Shelf on or in relation to offshore installations, upstream petroleum infrastructure, critical safety work on offshore installations and wells that are being decommissioned or which are being preserved pending demolition or reuse or activities for the provision of workers, goods, materials or equipment or other essential services required to support the safe operation of offshore work have been exempted from these measures. Offshore workers entering the UK who are required to undertake those activities in the UK or on the UK Continental Shelf are covered by the exemption. Those travelling overseas to work on infrastructure outside of the UK will not be exempt on their return to the UK, unless they will be conducting the specified activities in the UK or on the UK Continental Shelf within 14 days of their return.These measures will be subject to review every three weeks.

Hospitality Industry: Social Distancing

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when pubs, bars and restaurants reopen following covid-19 lockdown measures what (a) enforcement measures and (b) penalties will be in place if those venues fail to enforce social distancing.

Paul Scully: We are working at pace to develop safe ways for pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen at the earliest opportunity it is safe to do so, through our pubs and restaurants taskforce. As set out in the roadmap, it is our ambition to reopen pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants from 4 July at the earliest, subject to the scientific advice at the time. However, pubs, restaurants and cafes can continue to offer takeaway-enabled services as they have been during lockdown. Our guidance forms part of employers’ normal health and safety practice. Health and safety legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and by local authorities. Social distancing is a key part of our scientific advice. This will be considered by employers as part of their risk assessment.  If the enforcing authority finds that an employer is not taking action to properly manage workplace risk, a range of actions are is open to them, including specific advice or issuing enforcement notices.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June to Question 53292 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what weight was given to consideration of the potential effect on the (a) prosperity agenda and (b) regional balance in the selection criteria for the decision on where to locate the Vaccines Manufacture and Innovation Centre.

Amanda Solloway: The selection criteria for the location of the Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre is listed on the competition brief and the selection was made on that basis. This includes the ability to work with centres of excellence across the country and to help deliver on the goals of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Vaccination: Manufacturing Industries

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to support long-term domestic vaccine manufacturing capability.

Amanda Solloway: Long-term domestic vaccine manufacturing capability is being considered jointly with the Department of Health and Social Care and Government is working closely with the Bioindustry Association (BIA) to ensure that the UK has the manufacturing capabilities to produce new vaccines at the levels required. In addition, Government has recently announced £93 million investment to accelerate the launch of the UK’s new Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre; a facility that will utilise innovative processes to manufacture vaccines at scale.

Engineering: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to utilise advice from the engineering sector as part of the Government's response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Nadhim Zahawi: Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, we have closely engaged with the engineering and manufacturing sectors, ensuring that their input helps to shape the Government’s response.  We have also worked closely with businesses, business bodies, trade unions, Public Health England, and workplace safety experts to develop a “national consensus” on the safest ways of working across the economy. This has included engagement with stakeholders from the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Through this work we have developed specific guidance for different types of workplaces, including factories, plants, and warehouses.   Last week, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy convened a series of Economic Recovery roundtables, bringing together businesses, business representative groups, and leading academics to consider measures to support economic recovery and ensure we have the right skills and opportunities in place for our workforce.

Merchant Shipping: Redundancy

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make representations to P&O Ferries’ owners DP World on the 1,100 redundancies planned in the UK on international roll-on roll-off ferry routes.

Nadhim Zahawi: We understand this is a very difficult time for employees and businesses across the UK, particularly those impacted by the sharp reduction in transportation and travel. The Government has made an unprecedented support package available to businesses to avoid job losses, where possible. Measures include access to billions of pounds of loans, grants, guarantees, and tax deferrals, as well as extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to October 2020. The Government will continue to engage with businesses and do everything we can to support jobs as we re-open the economy.

European Union Intellectual Property Office: Brexit

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to limit rights of representation at the UK Intellectual Property Office to those persons with a UK or Channel Island address if there are no reciprocal rights of representation for UK practitioners before the European Union Intellectual Property Office at the end of the transition period.

Amanda Solloway: Officials are having ongoing conversations with representative bodies over how to best approach the issues surrounding address for service once the transition period ends.

Employment: Diabetes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent guidance his Department has issued to employers on ensuring a safe workplace for employees with diabetes.

Paul Scully: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Conditions of Employment

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent employers dismissing and re-employing staff for the purposes of changing the terms and conditions of their employment.

Paul Scully: Terms and conditions of employment are for negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their representatives). Provided they do not discriminate unlawfully, for example on grounds of race, sex or disability, employers are free to offer the terms and conditions of employment which best suit their business needs. Once agreed, however, they form a legally binding contract of employment. While it is always open to either party to seek to renegotiate the terms of the contract, if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress.

Hospitality Industry: Coronavirus

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish covid-19 guidance for businesses in the hospitality sector on how to re-open safely.

Paul Scully: We launched our pubs and restaurants taskforce on 11th May to develop new guidelines for their reopening where and when it is safe to do so. As my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in the roadmap, it is our ambition to allow such businesses (subject to the scientific and medical advice) from 4th July. Our intention is that any new guidance will precede this.

Public Houses: Coronavirus

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish covid-19 guidance for pubs on how to re-open safely.

Paul Scully: The Government launched our pubs and restaurants taskforce on the 11th of May to develop new guidelines for their reopening where and when it is safe to do so. As my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in the roadmap, it is our ambition to allow such businesses (subject to the scientific and medical advice) from the 4th of July. Our intention is that any new guidance will precede this.

Batteries: Manufacturing Industries

Simon Baynes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to facilitate the development of electric vehicle battery manufacturing in the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits for North Wales and Wrexham of Stoke-on-Trent becoming a manufacturing location for those batteries.

Nadhim Zahawi: There are a range of factors that will influence the location of any UK Gigafactory investment, and the final location decision will be a commercial matter.The Government has a long-standing programme of support to maintain the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector. Through the Automotive Sector Deal, we are working with the industry to develop world-leading battery technologies. We have already invested £274 million in the Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The FBC is a cutting-edge programme, helping UK businesses to lead the world in the design, development, and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. Under the FBC, we have invested £120 million in the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), the first phase of which was completed in March 2020, and which will provide a state-of-the-art pilot facility to test new cell technology. UKBIC will play a key role in laying the groundwork to secure a battery Gigafactory in the UK. The Faraday Institution commissioned a study which showed that by 2040, an estimated eight Gigafactories (of 15GWh per year capacity) will be needed in the UK and consequently employment in the automotive industry and battery supply chain could increase to 246,000 jobs. The Government has announced up to £1 billion of additional funding to develop UK electric vehicle supply chains, and for further electric vehicles research and development. This funding will accelerate mass production of key technologies in the UK, through major investments in the manufacturing of batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and hydrogen fuel cells, along with their component and materials supply chains.

Aerospace Industry

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of plans in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) the US to support their domestic aerospace industries.

Nadhim Zahawi: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Coronavirus

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on releasing prisoners of conscience Gedhun Choekyi Nyimain, Hu Chigen and Bishop James Zhumin due to the risk of covid-19 to detainees in overcrowded prisons.

Nigel Adams: The risk of the spread of COVID-19 in places of detention is a matter of concern around the world. We will continue to engage closely with the Chinese authorities on the COVID-19 crisis. We pay close attention to the human rights situation in Tibet, and raise our concerns with the Chinese authorities.

Israel: Palestinians

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the Middle East peace process.

James Cleverly: We continue to work closely with international partners strongly advocating a two state solution and encouraging a return to meaningful negotiations between both parties. I have continued to encourage the Palestinians to offer their own detailed proposals for a settlement, and to find a means of restarting discussions with the US. I did so with Palestinian Prime Minister Shtayyeh on 3 May and in a virtual meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee with Israel, the Palestinians, and the international community on 2 June. As well as, most recently, on 4 June when I met with Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki during my virtual visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Secretary discussed the Middle East peace process and our opposition to the unilateral annexation of territory during calls with Alternate Israeli Prime Minister Gantz on 20 May, Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry on 21 May, Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi on 28 May and Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi on 2 June.

Ukraine: Religious Freedom

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief in the (a) Donetsk People’s Republic and (b) Luhansk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine.

Wendy Morton: The Government is deeply concerned about violations of Freedom of Religion or Belief in many parts of the world. It is a universal human right for all people to be able to practise their faith or belief without fear or discrimination. This is an issue that the UK has long championed, including through the Prime Minister's appointment of Rehman Chishti MP as his Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. In the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" in eastern Ukraine, we are extremely concerned by reports of such infringements including the seizing and sealing of churches and other places of worship, forced cancellation of services and arrests and harassment of clergy.This is part of a wider pattern of human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by Russia's proxies in the non-government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine. We continue to call on Russia to use its considerable influence over them to ensure respect for all international human rights, to fully implement recommendations contained in the reports of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and grant unhindered access for international humanitarian organisations.

Kazakhstan: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Kazakhstan on the release of 24 Muslims who have been jailed for up to eight years for exercising their freedom of religion or belief, in response to the risk of covid-19 in overcrowded prisons in that country.

Wendy Morton: The UK is a strong supporter of human rights in Kazakhstan. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including through our embassy in Nur-Sultan, has raised, and will continue to raise, with the Kazakh authorities the importance of taking steps to protect and respect individuals' rights to exercise Freedom of Religion or Belief. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Richard Solomon Tarfa

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Nigerian counterpart on the imprisonment of Professor Richard Solomon Tarfa on 25 December 2019.

James Duddridge: The British High Commission in Abuja has raised Professor Tarfa's case with the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and the Kano State authorities. The UK Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Rehman Chishti MP, has also raised the case at a senior level within the Federal Government. We have repeatedly underlined the importance of an open and transparent legal process for Mr Tarfa, in accordance with Nigerian law and international human rights standards.

Mubarak Bala

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Nigerian counterpart on the arrest of Mubarak Bala, President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, on 28 April 2020.

James Duddridge: The UK Government is monitoring the arrest of Mr Bala closely. I raised Mr Bala's case with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs on 21 May. Our High Commission in Abuja has also discussed the case with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Police. The recent update from the Nigerian authorities is that Mr Bala has been charged with 'insulting contempt of religious creed and insulting public disturbances' under the penal code and racist and xenophobic offences under the cybercrime act. The charges are made under Kano State Law.The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Rehman Chishti MP, is also engaged and has raised this matter with international counterparts. On 6 May, Mr Chishti spoke to the Chief Executive of Humanists UK and stressed the UK's close monitoring of the case. The Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, also discussed Mr Bala's case with the Chief Executive of Humanists UK on 20 May.We will continue to stress the importance of a transparent investigation that respects Mr Bala's human rights, the rule of law, and the Nigerian constitutional right to freedom of religion or belief. Defending freedom of religion or belief for all remains a UK policy priority and we will continue to use our voice internationally to protect this human right, championed by Mr Chishti.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce (a) additional sanctions and (b) other measures in relation to (i) the Russian Wagner Group and (ii) other groups operating in Libya in violation of international law.

James Cleverly: The UK is deeply concerned about reports of Russian Wagner Group personnel and other external actors operating in Libya. We take seriously violations of International Humanitarian Law and breaches of sanctions, including the UN arms embargo. We continue to stress to all states the necessity of complying with and enforcing international law. The UK carefully considers all reports of sanctions breaches, including the reports of the UN Panel of Experts, and regularly reviews sanctions measures.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2020 to Question 46666 on British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus, of the 150 charter flights delivered by the Government to support repatriation efforts, from which countries charter flights have been commissioned by the Government to repatriate British citizens; and if he will publish the (a) date, (b) starting location and (c) final destination of each such charter flight.

Nigel Adams: I refer you to the answer of PQ 46666.

Coronavirus: Travel Information

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what travel will be classed as essential under the terms of his Department's covid-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice.

Nigel Adams: Since 17 March, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel globally due to the unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions currently in place in response to the global pandemic.Whether travel is essential or not is a personal decision. Travellers may have urgent family or business commitments to attend to. Circumstances differ from person to person. Only individuals can make an informed decision based on the risks.Current Her Majesty's Government guidance also states that members of the public should not stay overnight away from their own home, except for in a limited set of circumstances, such as for work purposes.We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping all our travel advice under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest situation on the ground and our assessment of risk to British people.

Human Rights: Sanctions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the United States' Magnitsky Act, what progress the Government is making on introducing a UK autonomous global human rights sanctions regime.

Nigel Adams: As the Foreign Secretary said in a Statement on Tuesday 2 June, we intend to bring the global human rights sanctions regulations before the House before the Summer recess. This legislation would allow us to impose sanctions in response to serious human rights violations or abuses around the world.

Hong Kong: National Security

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he plans to have with representatives of HSBC and Standard Chartered on recent statements of support from both companies for the introduction by China of new national security legislation for Hong Kong.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Immigrants: Coronavirus

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the return to the UK of people with leave to remain in the UK.

Nigel Adams: Our objective remains to bring home British travellers who want to return to the UK, as soon as possible. From the outset, our priority for the charter flight programme has been getting British travellers home. But after we launched the charter flight programme, it became clear that there were people with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) who normally reside in the UK and wanted to get back, particularly in India and Pakistan. Where possible, we are working to help vulnerable UK residents with ILR provided that they have lived in the UK within the last year. This is beyond the scope of our standard consular assistance, where such assistance is usually just for British nationals, but these are exceptional times.

Germany: USA

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what notice was given to the Government by the US Administration of its intention to cut the number of US troops in Germany by almost one-third; and what representations the Government have made on this proposal (a) directly and (b) via NATO to President Trump (i) before and (ii) since its announcement.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government does not comment on speculation. The United States and United Kingdom are strong partners and allies, with a uniquely close and active defence and security partnership. Ministers and officials regularly engage with the US on a wide range of security issues, both bilaterally and in NATO, including the deployment of US troops in Europe.

Bahrain: Overseas Aid

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2020 to Question 5454 on Gulf States: Overseas Aid, how many projects and programme activities have been funded by the Integrated Activity Fund solely for Bahrain during (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20; which Departments applied for the funding to implement those projects and programme activities; and how much money was spent from the Integrated Activity Fund on those projects and programme activities.

James Cleverly: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bahrain: Huddersfield University

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2020 to Question 25129, whether his Department was consulted by the University of Huddersfield on or subsequent to the establishment of an MSc in Security Science reserved for students at Bahrain's Royal Academy of Policing.

James Cleverly: There have been no consultations between HMG and the University of Huddersfield about its provision of an MSc in Security Science exclusively to students at the Royal Academy of Policing.

Bahrain: Overseas Aid

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2020 to Question 5454 on Gulf States: Overseas Aid, how many project or programme activities have been funded by the Integrated Activity Fund solely for Bahrain during the financial years (a) 2018- 19 and (b) 2019-20; which Government departments applied for that funding to implement those project or programme activities; and how much money from the public purse was allocated from the Integrated Activity Fund to those project or programme activities.

James Cleverly: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Huddersfield University: Bahrain

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2020 to Question 25129 on Bahrain: Huddersfield University, whether her Department was consulted by the University of Huddersfield on or subsequent to their establishment of an MSc in Security Science reserved for students at Bahrain's Royal Academy of Policing.

James Cleverly: There have been no consultations between HMG and the University of Huddersfield about its provision of an MSc in Security Science exclusively to students at the Royal Academy of Policing.

Ukraine: Peace Negotiations

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to (a) facilitate the peace process in Ukraine and (b) support the implementation of reforms in Ukraine in line with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Wendy Morton: The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to helping Ukraine build a strong economy, strong institutions and counter Russian aggression. We welcome President Zelensky's commitment to ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. We have been clear on the importance of finding a diplomatic solution and continue to support the Minsk agreements, as well as the work of Germany and France within the Normandy Format. We continue to call on Russia to play its part to end the conflict by immediately ceasing its support for the armed formations it backs and fulfilling its obligations under the Minsk agreements. We repeatedly raise with Russia the need to use its influence over its proxies to ensure unrestricted access for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and humanitarian organisations. Continued discussions are fundamental for further progress towards peace.In common with the EU and other like-minded partners, the UK continues to provide substantial assistance to strengthen Ukraine's democracy and institutions, and to support implementation of Ukraine's reform programme. In July 2017, we hosted the inaugural Ukraine Reform Conference, launching a series of annual reform conferences. For 2020/21, the UK has allocated over £40 million of programme support, with at least £12 million through the Good Governance Fund to help Ukraine deliver economic and governance reforms, including in the context of Ukraine's aspirations towards EU and NATO integration. This work includes initiatives to tackle corruption, deliver sustainable economic development and strengthen democracy. The UK is working to protect citizens affected by the conflict, develop peace-building expertise and promote social cohesion and resilience. This year we are focused on supporting Ukraine to mitigate and address the secondary implications of COVID-19 on conflict and stability.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on securing the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

James Cleverly: The permanent release of all arbitrarily detained dual nationals in Iran and their return to their families in the UK remains our top priority. While the further extension of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's temporary release is a welcome step, we continue to urge the Iranian Government to make it permanent so she can return to her family in the UK and will continue to raise this at the highest levels with Iran. The Foreign Secretary raised this with Foreign Minister Zarif on 16 March and I raised this with the Iranian Ambassador on 26 March. Our Ambassador in Tehran consistently raises all of our dual national detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chile: Human Rights and Torture

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chilean counterpart on UN reports of (a) torture and (b) other human rights violations by Chilean state agents.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government shares the concerns of the UN about events that have occurred in Chile. Our Ambassador in Chile has talked with representatives of the Chilean Government to express our concerns about the violence witnessed during protests and about reports of human rights abuses by state agents. We welcome the Chilean Government's acceptance of the report and its recommendations and the Chilean Government's assurances, in public and to our Ambassador, that allegations of human rights abuses will be investigated fully, and that, if appropriate, perpetrators will be prosecuted. Our Embassy in Santiago remains in close contact with the Chilean authorities and will continue to monitor the situation.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to page 44 of the document entitled New Decade, New Approach, published in January 2020, which states that the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme will be closed down, whether the required £60 to £600 million compensation is included in the associated finance package.

Mr Robin Walker: The New Decade, New Approach agreement included a commitment to close down the existing RHI scheme and replace it with a scheme that effectively cuts carbon emissions in Northern Ireland. This pledge was part of text about the programme for government for the new Executive and not a UK Government commitment. To support the new Executive, UKG has guaranteed at least £1bn of Barnett-based funding to support investment, alongside £1bn of new resource and capital spending. This funding is not intended to absorb the costs to the Executive of the RHI voluntary buy-out scheme and/or addressing financial hardship experienced by scheme participants as a result of adjusted RHI tariffs.

Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry: Northern Ireland

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding in the report of the Renewable Heat Incentive public inquiry that RHI was a project too far for the Government of Northern Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: The RHI Inquiry was commissioned by a Northern Ireland Minister and fundamentally concerns devolved issues. The Government does, however, expect to see rapid progress in implementing all of Sir Patrick’s recommendations, alongside continued implementation of the reforms in New Decade, New Approach, and is working closely with the First and deputy First Minister to ensure this is done.

Department of Health and Social Care

Mental Health Services

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new referrals there were to NHS secondary mental health services in March and April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The information requested is shown in the following table. EnglandMarch 2019April 2019March 2020April 20202Referrals to mental health services starting in reporting period1321,326303,373297,516Not yet availableSource: Mental Health Services Data Set, NHS Digital3 Notes:1 A person may have had more than one referral within any given period.2 Data for April 2020 are still being collected and analysed.3 Caution should be made when comparing data as the coverage of the Mental Health Services Data Set has increased with 266 providers submitting data in March 2020 compared to 171 providers in March 2019.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that child and adolescent mental health service can meet the needs of children and young people when covid-19 lockdown is fully lifted.

Ms Nadine Dorries: National Health Service mental health services have remained open, and services have deployed digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support.We expect mental health services to liaise with local partners to ensure referral routes are understood, particularly where children and young people are not at school.NHS England has asked all mental health trusts to ensure there are 24 hours a day, seven days a week open access telephone lines for urgent NHS mental health support, advice and triage for all ages through a single point of access.

Learning Disability: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implication for his policies of the Care Quality Commission's published data of 2 June 2020 in relation to deaths of people with a learning disability as a result of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether medical doctors arriving from abroad to work in the UK may avoid having to quarantine for 14 days by submitting to a test for covid-19 antigens.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Respite Care: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the quality of care of carers not being able to access breaks or respite support during the covid-19 outbreak in (a) Barnsley Central constituency and (b) the UK.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carers: Protective Clothing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will give carers providing unpaid care priority access to personal protective equipment in (a) Barnsley Central constituency and (b) the UK.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the personal protective equipment stockpiled as part of the preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal have been used during the response to the covid-19 outbreak; and by what date he estimates those stockpiles will be replenished.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Nurses

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) individual and (b) full-time equivalent registered mental health nurses have been working for NHS provider organisations in (i) each year since 2009-10 and (ii) 2020-21.

Ms Nadine Dorries: NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care or in general practitioner surgeries, local authorities or other providers.The following table shows the number of mental health nurses as at September each year since 2009 and as at February 2020, the latest available data, full time equivalent (FTE) and headcount. Mental health nurses, FTEMental health nurses, headcountSeptember 200940,60250,844September 201040,24750,028September 201139,02448,061September 201238,13546,395September 201337,39745,143September 201436,58144,073September 201535,67143,169September 201635,48842,959September 201735,39042,941September 201835,83543,539September 201936,69644,610February 202037,38845,657

Hospitals: Protective Clothing

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice he has received on the need for hospital staff and visitors to wear face masks at all times in to reduce the transmission of covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hospitals: Protective Clothing

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he received advice on the need for hospital staff to wear face masks at all times to reduce the transmission of covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Immigrants

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his announcementon 21 May 2020 that the immigration health surcharge would be removed for NHS staff and care workers, when that surcharge will be removed; whether workers who become exempt from that surcharge will be refunded; and whether the removal of that surcharge for those workers will be permanent.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisoners: Death

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 53405 on Prisoners: Death, in what format his Department holds the information requested.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the (a) mental health and (b) social isolation of those who have been designated as clinically vulnerable during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Blood: LGBT People

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to allow homosexual and bisexual men to participate in donating antibodies to help in the response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Day Care: Children

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 provide for (a) family members and (b) friends to provide free childcare in their homes for parents who have to work.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Charities: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the loss of funding to medical research charities on health outcomes in (a) cancer, (b) neurological conditions, (c) respiratory conditions (d) other medical conditions.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Data Protection

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department undertook data protection impact assessments before entering into NHS data-sharing contracts with (a) Faculty, (b) Palantir and (c) other companies.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Influenza: Vaccination

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the provision of the NHS-funded flu vaccination to key workers.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Genito-urinary Medicine: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether public health spending on (a) sexual health services, (b) women’s health services and (c) contraception will be protected (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 pandemic.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Genito-urinary Medicine: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) sexual health services and (b) contraceptive services are delivered to full capacity (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 pandemic.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contact Tracing: Coronavirus

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been contacted by the NHS test and trace system on each day since 1 June 2020; and whether those contacts were made by (a) operation of the relevant app (b) the Phone Bank (c) directors of public health (d) the NHS locally; and if he will publish that data on a daily basis going forward.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Epilepsy: Cannabis

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions for (a) Epidyolex and (b) unlicensed cannabis-based medicines were issued for people with epilepsy by the NHS in each month since November 2018.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Epilepsy: Cannabis

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into cannabis-based medicines for epilepsy.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including cannabis-based medicines in the remit of the proposed Innovative Medicines Fund.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations contained in the report published by NHS England and NHS Improvement, entitled Barriers to accessing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on NHS prescription, published in March 2019.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Medical Treatments: Children

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to (a) cannabis-based medicines and (b) unlicensed medicinal products for children with severe and treatment-resistant conditions where clinically appropriate.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: New Zealand

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions officials in his Department have had with health officials in the New Zealand Government on that country's approach to tackling covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations received by (a) his Department and (b) Public Health England in respect of that organisation's report entitled Covid-19: review of disparities in risks and outcomes published on 2 June 2020.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Drugs

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what percentage of exemptions and payment relief support through the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access was invested in innovative new medicines in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to increase mental health service provision for 18-25 year olds who have reported mental health issues relating to the lockdown due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to provide postcode level data on (a) positive and (b) negative covid-19 tests obtained through (i) Pillar 1 and (ii) Pillar 2 testing strands to (A) local resilience forums and (b) local authority Directors of Public Health.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carers

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to implement an identification scheme for unpaid carers in (a) the Barnsley Central constituency and (b) England.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carers: Barnsley Central

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to publish a second Carers Action Plan to support carers in the Barnsley Central constituency.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

John Lamont: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 46771, tabled by the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk on 13 May 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of permitting partners from different households to form social bubbles during the covid-19 outbreak; and whether he has received scientific advice on that matter.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Wallasey

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the maximum number of covid-19 tests is that can be completed per day by mobile covid-19 testing units in Wallasey.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Wirral

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many positive covid-19 test results have been recorded from tests completed by mobile testing units based in (a) Wirral and (b) Wallasey.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Wirral

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many covid-19 tests have been (a) administered in person and (b) posted out to care homes in (i) Wirral and (ii) Wallasey; and how many of those tests posted out have been returned.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hearing Impaired: Protective Clothing

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of face coverings on accessibility for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hearing Impaired: Protective Clothing

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's press release of 5 June 2020, on  surgical masks worn in NHS hospitals, what provision his Department has made for NHS staff who are (a) deaf or (b) have hearing loss.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hospitals: Protective Clothing

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's press release of 5 June 2020, Face masks and coverings to be worn by all NHS hospital staff and visitors, if he will issue guidance on if staff should remove face masks while conducting (a) video consultations and (b) telehealth appointments throughout hospital departments.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Protective Clothing

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government press release dated 5 June 2020, Face masks and coverings to be worn by all NHS hospital staff and visitors, if he will issue guidance on whether staff will be permitted to conduct their appointment without a face mask at a 2 metre distance if a patient identifies themselves as requiring lip reading.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund

Sir Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will amend the guidance for allowable expenses under the Infection Control Fund to include the purchase of (a) specialist infection control equipment and (b) specialist infection control services from contractors.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Autism: Kent

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Kent waiting for an initial assessment for autism spectrum condition significantly longer than the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standard; and what steps he is taking to ensure that no patients have to wait for more than three months for their first appointment.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Nusinersen

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many sufferers of spinal muscular atrophy have not yet received the drug spinraza for which they are eligible following the decision of NICE; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hydroxychloroquine: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date the Government placed the orders for £5 million worth of hydroxychloroquine for the potential treatment of covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hearing Impairment: Coronavirus

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's policy on the use of face masks of the Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance published by the WHO on 5 June 2020, on the of disadvantages of those masks for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hearing Impairment: Coronavirus

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to  (a) the NHS and (b) social care providers on meeting the requirements of the Accessible Information Standard for patients with (i) hearing loss and (ii) who face additional communication barriers due to the use of face masks during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the General Dental Council on rebating fees for registrants to mitigate the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the income of dental care professionals.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Visitors: Coronavirus

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing exemptions to the Government's 14 day quarantine requirement for visitors to the UK who can prove that they have tested negative for covid-19 within the last seven days.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contraceptives: Finance

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of funding for contraception since 2015.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contraceptives: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to ensure that women are able to access their contraception of choice during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Family Planning: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the response to the covid-19 outbreak on access to (a) contraception services and (b) abortion services; and what progress has been made on the development of (i) remote and (ii) digital access to those services.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Visitors: Coronavirus

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing exemptions to the Government's 14 day quarantine requirement for visitors who have come to the UK to visit terminally ill relatives and can prove that they test negative for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contraceptives

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to long-acting reversible contraception.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Coronavirus

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her counterparts overseas on raising financial support for developing nations to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The Coronavirus outbreak is the biggest global crisis in a generation. This calls for decisive and co-ordinated action to respond to the global health, economic and humanitarian implications, especially to support the poorest and most vulnerable.The UK is playing a leading role in galvanising international action and unlocking timely financial support – both direct UK support and through the UN and the wider multilateral system. The UK is also using its voice and influence in key international forums such as the G7 and G20 - for example, helping secure agreement in the G20 to suspend all debt repayments for the poorest and most vulnerable countries until the end of 2020. The Secretary of State and I also work closely with our counterparts in other major donor countries including the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Australia to encourage funds to be made available as quickly as possible to where the risks and needs are greatest.The UK is bringing others with us to raise much-needed financial support. For example, at the UK-hosted Global Vaccine Summit on 4 June world leaders, foundations, the private sector and civil society pledged $8.8 billion to help Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to address the short and long-term challenges posed by the pandemic.

World Health Organisation: Overseas Aid

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding was allocated from (a) the UK Government public purse and (b) other countries to the World Health Organisation in 2019.

Wendy Morton: The UK is the third biggest donor to the WHO, giving £120 million per annum on average. We do not routinely keep data on funding allocated by other countries. The World Health Organization holds this information.

Occupied Territories: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support the covid-19 response in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to help support the Occupied Palestinian Territories' response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the capacity of Gaza’s health system to respond effectively to the covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the availability of (a) testing kits, (b) personal protective equipment and (c) hygiene supplies necessary to contain the covid-19 pandemic in Gaza.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to help prevent the spread of covid-19 in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to support (a) healthcare services and (b) disease prevention in Gaza since the covid-19 outbreak.

James Cleverly: The UN assesses that although the current number of detected cases remains relatively low in Gaza and the West Bank, the capacity of the Palestinian health system to cope with an increase in COVID-19 cases is poor, including the low availability of PPE and ventilators. The situation is particularly severe in Gaza, where the health system has shortages in specialised staff, drugs and equipment.The UK has pledged £764 million to support the global humanitarian response to COVID-19. We have delivered additional vital support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by providing funding to the World Health Organization and UNICEF to purchase and co-ordinate the delivery of medical equipment, treat critical care patients, train frontline public health personnel and scale up laboratory testing capacity. I also recently announced £20 million in new funding, which will help the Palestinian Authority support its health workers who have been on the frontline battling coronavirus.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Government’s announcement of 2 June 2020 on a new £160 million humanitarian aid package for Yemen, what (a) public health expertise and (b) medical equipment the Government is planning to provide to the Yemen under that aid package to help tackle the ongoing humanitarian crisis in that country; and whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using the UN-backed International Initiative on COVID-19 in Yemen to deliver such resources.

James Cleverly: As part of our £160 million commitment in humanitarian funding for Yemen in the 2020/21 financial year, the UK expects to provide over 700,000 medical consultations, train 12,000 healthcare workers to work safely in a COVID-19 environment and provide a much-needed boost to nearly 4,000 health centres to continue providing existing health services.The UK also continues to engage closely the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), including through advice and support, to help them with their COVID-19 response in Yemen.We are also working with the British NGO UK Med to explore the possibility of seconding medical experts to support the UN’s COVID-19 response.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of providing (a) financial assistance and (b) medical supplies to (i) the UN-backed International Initiative on COVID-19 in Yemen and (ii) UN-backed Yemeni-led frameworks established to support the WHO’s response to the covid-19 pandemic in Yemen.

James Cleverly: The UK announced our new pledge of £160 million in humanitarian funding for Yemen in the 2020/21 financial year at the Yemen Pledging Conference on 2 June.As part of this commitment, the UK will support the UN’s plans to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in Yemen and expects to provide over 700,000 medical consultations, train 12,000 healthcare workers to work safely in a COVID-19 environment, and provide a much-needed boost to nearly 4,000 health centres to continue providing existing health services.

Yemen: Coronavirus

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the provision of additional funding to slow the spread of covid-19 in Yemen.

James Cleverly: Over the last month the International Development Secretary and I have held several calls with our counterparts, including from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, to stress the importance of donors providing additional funds to the humanitarian response in Yemen.UK officials have also held similar discussions with their counterparts around the world.The UK announced our new pledge of £160 million in humanitarian funding for Yemen in the 2020/21 financial year at the Yemen Pledging Conference on 2 June, taking our total commitment since the conflict began to £970 million.We will continue to encourage further funding from other donors over the coming months.

Developing Countries: Ventilators

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support developing countries to increase the number of ventilators available during the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK is at the forefront of the global response to COVID-19. We are using UK aid to its full effect to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic risks and impact of this pandemic in the developing world. We have committed up to £764 million of UK Aid to combat COVID-19 and reinforce the global effort to find a vaccine.Our funding is supporting a range of initiatives and partners to ensure it can reach those who need it the most. This includes £75 million for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help lead international efforts to stop the spread of the virus and access critical medical supplies; £55 million to International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement appeals to provide medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics, and build quarantine areas and disinfection facilities; and a range of support to NGOs.The WHO and UNICEF are working with governments to identify requirements and ensure that supplies, including the critical medical equipment for oxygen therapy, reach those in need.

Yemen: Coronavirus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the Government’s £160 million humanitarian aid package for Yemen is being allocated to help the covid-19 pandemic response in that country.

James Cleverly: The UK announced our new pledge of £160 million in humanitarian funding for Yemen in the 2020/21 financial year at the Yemen Pledging Conference on 2 June, of which 32% has already been disbursed.The package as a whole will help tackle the wide-ranging, direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 in Yemen which are already exacerbating a dire humanitarian crisis. Our support will also specifically provide over 700,000 medical consultations, train 12,000 healthcare workers to work safely in a COVID-19 environment and provide a much-needed boost to nearly 4,000 health centres.

Yemen: Coronavirus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he is taking to ensure that some of the Government’s £160 million humanitarian aid package for Yemen is used to stop the spread of covid-19 in communities on both sides of the conflict; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using UN-backed Yemeni-led frameworks established by (a) the International Initiative on COVID-19 in Yemen and (b) other private sector organisations to deliver aid to both sides.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of collaborating with (a) the International Initiative on covid-19 in Yemen and (b) other UN-backed Yemeni-led frameworks established by the private sector to support the WHO’s response to the covid-19 pandemic in Yemen, in order to distribute the £160 million humanitarian aid package announced by the Government on 2 June 2020.

James Cleverly: The UK announced our new pledge of £160 million in humanitarian funding for Yemen in the 2020/21 financial year at the Yemen Pledging Conference on 2 June.As part of this commitment, the UK will support the UN’s plans to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in Yemen and expects to provide over 700,000 medical consultations, train 12,000 healthcare workers to work safely in a COVID-19 environment and provide a much-needed boost to nearly 4,000 health centres to continue providing existing health services.In addition, the UK is also supporting the Yemeni Private Sector Cluster, which in April sourced a vital shipment of COVID-19 related supplies and equipment for Yemen.

Department for Education

Schools: Coronavirus

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the higher mortality risk from covid-19 among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, what guidance he is giving to schools on protecting staff and children from a BAME background and their families from covid-19; and what support he is giving to schools to enable them to implement that guidance.

Nick Gibb: We are aware that there is emerging evidence that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals can be more severely affected than the general population by COVID-19. On 2 June, Public Health England published their review into disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19, which included ethnicity. There is still much work to do to understand the key drivers of disparities, the relationships between the different risk factors and what we can do to reduce the impact. The Government is considering how the review and ongoing work on this issue should inform our approach. Schools should be especially sensitive to the needs and worries of BAME members of staff, BAME parents and BAME pupils, and consider if any additional measures or reasonable adjustments may need to be put in place to mitigate concerns.We have provided detailed guidance on implementing protective measure in schools on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.This includes advice on approaches and actions schools should implement to create an inherently safer system, where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced.

Schools: Social Distancing

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what additional funding he is making available to schools to cover the costs of adapting premises to meet social distancing requirements.

Nick Gibb: We have made over £200 million in Devolved Formula Capital allocations available to schools for the financial year 2020-21. Schools can invest this in capital projects to meet their own priorities. There is, however, no expectation that schools carry out building works to adapt their premises to support social distancing.We have published guidance on the additional funding we are providing to schools to cover unavoidable revenue costs incurred due to the COVID-19 outbreak that cannot be met from their existing resources. The fund is targeted towards the costs we have identified as the biggest barrier to schools operating as they need to at this challenging time.The cost categories covered by the fund are clearly set out in the guidance – increased premises related costs of opening over school holidays; support for free school meals for eligible children who are not in school, where schools are not using the national voucher scheme; and additional cleaning costs relating to cases or suspected cases of COVID-19, above the cost of existing cleaning arrangements. Details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-for-the-period-march-to-july-2020

Pupil Premium: Coronavirus

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a catch-up pupil premium for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people after the covid-19 lockdown.

Vicky Ford: We will do whatever we can to ensure no child, whatever their background or location, falls behind as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. So far, we have committed over £100 million to support remote education. We are providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for exams in year 10, to those receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children, and care leavers. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we will be providing 4G wireless routers to them so that they can learn at home.As well as announcing the biggest funding increase for schools in a decade, raising current levels by £14.4 billion over the next three years, we continue to pay schools quarterly additional funding worth £2.4 billion each year through the pupil premium to help them support their disadvantaged pupils. Since April 2020, pupil premium rates per pupil are at their highest ever.We are working with partners to explore how schools can use their resources, including pupil premium, to most effectively support pupils to make up for time spent out of school.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2020 to Question 48566 on Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes, on what date the first e-Code email that hard bounced was sent prior to being discovered by Edenred on the weekend starting 2 May 2020; for what reason there was a gap between that discovery and Edenred contacting schools to alert them to the problem on 7 May 2020; and what estimate he has made of the number of eligible children who missed out on free school meals as a result of that issue.

Vicky Ford: During this period, we are asking schools to support children at home who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March, we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the department.For the national voucher scheme, our supplier, Edenred, has indicated that orders are processed within four days. The latest information provided by Edenred indicates that parents and schools are facing minimal or no waiting time for orders that are placed online, despite continued growth in the number of parents and schools using the scheme.We do not hold data regarding the timescale of individual hard bounces, but we can confirm that Edenred acted promptly upon discovering the issue. On 7 May, Edenred issued communications to schools with hard bounce backs to let them know that they had input incorrect parent email addresses. Further to this, in the week commencing 11 May, Edenred issued additional communications to schools to address a number of incomplete orders which required further action from the schools, and again highlighted that some orders used incorrect or invalid parent email addresses.We are continuing to work very closely with Edenred to improve the performance of the national voucher scheme. The scheme continues to get easier and faster to use, putting supermarket vouchers into the hands of thousands of families and schools.The department is closely monitoring the delivery of the national voucher scheme. However, we do not hold information on provision for each eligible family.As of Wednesday 3 June, Edenred has reported that over £129 million worth of voucher codes had been redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families through the scheme. Edenred has reported that over 17,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 26 May.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Academic Year: Food

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that distribution of food to communities with specific needs is maintained during the school holidays.

Vicky Ford: As schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for free school meals who are not yet able to return to school. Where this is not possible, schools can continue to offer vouchers to eligible pupils. It is not intended for the national voucher scheme to run during the summer holidays. The government has made significant wider support available for children and families. On 10 June, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister confirmed an additional £63 million to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19. In addition, the government has introduced an uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by around £1,000 a year for the next 12 months as part of an injection of over £6.5 billion by government into the welfare system. Additionally, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are providing £16 million for food support through charities including FareShare and WRAP. The Department for Education will also be running the Holiday Activity and Food Programme this year with £9 million of funding for 10 programmes across 17 local authority areas. We will announce the names of the successful bidders for this funding later this month.

Schools: Coronavirus

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the guidance and instructions it has issued to schools in response to the covid-19 outbreak is consistent and non-contradictory.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is working closely with Public Health England and others to develop guidance for the education sector on COVID-19.The Department is engaging closely and constructively with unions, serving school leaders and other school stakeholder organisations to respond to sector concerns and support schools as they open for more pupils.We continue to update our guidance in response to feedback and to ensure it reflects the most up-to-date information to make sure that teachers, parents and young people are as well-informed as possible in the current rapidly changing circumstances.If staff or parents need further advice after reading the guidance on GOV.UK, the Department has set up a dedicated COVID-19 helpline for queries relating to education and children’s social care.

Schools: Coronavirus

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether additional Government funding will be made available to schools to cover the costs those schools have incurred in responding to the covid-19 crisis.

Nick Gibb: We are providing additional funding to schools, on top of existing budgets, to cover unavoidable costs incurred due to the COVID-19 outbreak that cannot be met from their existing resources.Schools are eligible to claim for: increased premises related costs associated with keeping schools open over the Easter and summer half term holidays; support for free school meals for eligible children who are not in school, where schools are not using the national voucher scheme; and additional cleaning costs required due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, over and above the cost of existing cleaning arrangements.Schools will continue to receive their budgets for the coming year, as usual, regardless of any periods of partial or complete closure.

Apprentices: Shipping

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to guarantee maritime apprenticeships in (a) Hull and (b) Dover as a result of plans by P&O Ferries to make seafarer redundancies on ferries working from those ports.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) maritime and (b) offshore employers are not deterred by the covid-19 pandemic from recruiting apprentices.

Gillian Keegan: We have introduced a broad range of flexibilities, including encouraging the remote delivery of apprenticeships, to ensure that apprentices can continue with their learning as far as possible and to support the continued take-up of apprenticeships: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-apprentices-employers-training-providers-end-point-assessment-organisations-and-external-quality-assurance-pro.Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people, and in supporting employers in all sectors to access the skilled workforce that they need to recover and grow, following the COVID-19 outbreak. Apprenticeship standards available in the maritime sector include Able Seafarer (Deck) and Marine Pilot.We are looking to support employers of all sizes, and particularly small businesses, and in all sectors, including the maritime sector, to take on new apprentices this year. We will set out further details in due course. We will also ensure that there is sufficient funding to support small businesses that want to take on an apprentice this year.A substantial package of support for businesses, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme), is available to enable people to remain in employment and reduce redundancies. Where redundancies are made, we will endeavour to provide comprehensive and practical support to ensure that apprenticeships can continue. We have launched a new hub for apprentices that offers guidance and information to support apprentices that may be, or are being, made redundant: https://help.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/sections/360003798540-Apprentice. We will continue to review how best to support these apprentices as part of the wider economic recovery.

Free School Meals

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) the free school meals budget, (b) free school meal vouchers and (c) reimbursing schools for other means of providing free school meals in each week since 20 March 2020.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of funding the continued provision of free school meals over the summer holidays in 2020.

Vicky Ford: The department provides free school meals for 1.3 million of the most disadvantaged children. This funding is equivalent to £2.30 per meal, saving families around £400 a year. During this period, we are asking schools to support children at home who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March, we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the department.As of Monday 8 June, Edenred has reported that over £139 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families through the scheme. Edenred has reported that over 17,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 26th May.We are continuing to provide schools with their expected funding, including funding to cover benefits-related free school meals and universal infant free school meals, throughout this period. However, if schools are unable to use the national voucher scheme and choose an alternative approach, they can be reimbursed through the exceptional costs fund, where the costs cannot be met from their existing resources. Further details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools.Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, during the Easter holidays and May half term break, the department met the costs of the national voucher scheme. This was in recognition of the unprecedented levels of disruption and uncertainty for schools during this time. As schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for free school meals who are not yet able to return to school. Where this is not possible, schools can continue to offer vouchers to eligible pupils. It is not intended for the national voucher scheme to run during the summer holidays.The government has made significant wider support available for children and families. On 10 June, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, confirmed an additional £63 million to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19. Thousands of disadvantaged children will also receive additional support over the summer through our Holiday Activities and Food programme which offers activities and free meals. In addition, the government has introduced an uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by around £1,000 a year for the next 12 months as part of an injection of over £6.5 billion by government into the welfare system. Additionally, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are providing £16 million for food support through charities including FareShare and WRAP.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Home Education: Coronavirus

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of participation levels in the home learning curriculum set by schools during the covid-19 lockdown.

Nick Gibb: The Department is continuing to assess the impact of the potential effect of school closure on children and young people’s education attainment. We are working closely with schools and nurseries, sector organisations, international institutions and across Government to understand the risks to education attainment and wellbeing, and identify how best to help children and young people make up for the time spent out of school.It is up to each school to determine how to deliver education to its pupils and whether and how to monitor participation. We recognise that many schools have already shared resources – both online and printed resources – for children who are at home, and we are committed to ensuring that all children at home can continue to learn remotely in a number of ways during these very difficult circumstances.We are supporting sector-led initiatives such as the Oak National Academy – a new enterprise which has been created by 40 teachers from schools across England. It will provide 180 video lessons for free each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to year 10. By 24 May, over 2.3 million users had visited the Oak Academy site and over 10.7 million lessons had been accessed.Additionally, the Government has committed over £100 million to boost remote education, including by providing devices and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Universities: Coronavirus

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support he plans to allocate to universities that lose income due to the loss of international student fees during the covid-19 outbreak.

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to ensure the continued viability of subject-specialist universities after the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan: The government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak is bringing significant financial challenges to the higher education (HE) sector and we have been working closely with the sector, including specialist providers, to monitor its likely impacts.On 4 May 2020, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced a package of measures to ensure sustainability in HE at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.We will stabilise the admissions system and pull forward tuition fee payments, expected to be worth £2.6 billion, for HE providers so that they receive more cash in the first term of the 2020/21 academic year. This will have no impact on students but will allow providers to better manage financial risks over the autumn. This will be available to all providers across the UK.In reprofiling these payments, we are clear in our expectation that providers should use the cashflow benefits appropriately, taking significant steps to improve efficiencies and manage their finances in order to avoid cashflow problems in the future. Reprofiling in this way is a one-off intervention for the autumn term only, to help providers take all necessary steps now to prepare for the future.On Friday 5 June, the department announced Sir Steve Smith as the International Education Champion, a key deliverable of the 2019 International Education Strategy. Sir Steve will assist with opening up export growth opportunities for the whole UK education sector, tackling international challenges such as those posed to attracting international students and forging lasting global connections.In England, we will also bring forward £100 million of quality-related research funding for providers to the current academic year to help to address some of the immediate pressures faced by university research activities.The department will consider purchasing land and buildings where they can be used for new or expanding schools and colleges in England. This will take place as part of existing programmes and using established procedures. This financial year (across purchases from all suitable vendors and including but not limited to HE providers), we have budgeted up to £100 million to acquire sites for planned projects in England. Details are available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students.The government has also confirmed that providers are eligible to apply for its support packages, including business loan support schemes. The Office for Students (OfS), the regulator in England, estimates that this could be worth at least £700 million to the sector. We will only intervene further where we believe there is a case to do so and where we believe that intervention is possible and appropriate and as a last resort.In such instances, we will work with providers to review their circumstances and to assess the need for restructuring and any attached conditions. The department will be working with HM Treasury and other government departments and with the devolved administrations to develop this restructuring regime.

Apprentices: Shipping

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of seafarer apprentices.

Gillian Keegan: Employers are at the heart of our reforms to apprenticeships, which include designing high-quality standards that deliver the skills that employers need and determining which apprenticeships employers offer and when they offer them. Over 550 employer-designed standards are now available and standards developed by the maritime sector include Able Seafarer at level 2, Maritime Operations Officer at level 3 and Marine Pilot at level 5. We announced in October 2018 that all new starts would be on these high-quality standards from 1 August 2020 and almost 75% of new apprenticeship starts are now on standards.In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have introduced a broad range of flexibilities, including encouraging the remote delivery of apprenticeships, in order to ensure that apprentices can continue with their learning as far as possible and to support the continued take up of apprenticeships by employers. The Marine Pilot Standard is one of the standards where flexibilities to the end point assessment have been agreed.Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people, and in supporting employers in all sectors to access the skilled workforce that they need to recover and grow, following the COVID-19 outbreak. We are looking to support employers of all sizes, and particularly smaller businesses, to take on new apprentices this year. We will set out further details in due course. We will also ensure that there is sufficient funding to support small businesses that want to take on an apprentice this year.

Apprentices: Transport

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprentices in all sectors of the transport industry over the next five years.

Gillian Keegan: We are working closely with intermediary bodies in the transport sector to promote apprenticeships to 55,000 employer members. This includes through campaigns, events and school and college partnerships. The National Skills Academy for Rail is supporting employers in the sector to develop new apprenticeship standards, ensuring employers identify the skills they need for the future. Transport sector ambassadors are also engaging intermediary bodies to foster commitment to apprenticeship delivery in the transport sector.Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people, and supporting employers in all sectors, including transport, to access the skilled workforce they need to recover and grow post COVID-19. We are looking to support employers of all sizes, and particularly smaller businesses to take on new apprentices this year. We will set out further details in due course. We will also ensure that there is sufficient funding to support small businesses wanting to take on an apprentice this year.We continue to work closely with the Department for Transport to support apprentices in the aviation and aerospace sector.

Further Education: Shipping

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department provided to maritime training colleges in England in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding his Department has allocated to maritime training colleges in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Gillian Keegan: The government funds a range of study programmes for 16 to 19 year olds, and via the Adult Education Budget (AEB), to help learners gain the skills they need to get into and progress in work, an apprenticeship or further learning. Additional funding is available to support apprenticeships.Within this, funding is available for particular qualifications related to maritime studies, but in general the government does not separately allocate funding to maritime training colleges as they are a part of different institutions.Education and Skills Funding Agency funding allocations, for each institution, are published on GOV.UK for 16 to 19 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-education-funding-allocations?mxmroi=2305-8593-35041-0#published-allocations) and AEB (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/19-funding-allocations).

History: Education

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to include in the school curriculum mandatory lessons on (a) black history and (b) UK colonial history.

Nick Gibb: The Department is committed to an inclusive education system which recognises and embraces diversity and supports all pupils and students to tackle racism and have the knowledge and tools to do so.The national curriculum is a framework setting out the content of what the Department expects schools to cover in each subject. The curriculum does not set out how curriculum subjects, or topics within the subjects, should be taught. The Department believes teachers should be able to use their own knowledge and expertise to determine how they teach their pupils, and to make choices about what they teach.As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies, and how different groups have contributed to the development of Britain, and this can include the voices and experience of Black people. The flexibility within the history curriculum means that there is the opportunity for teachers to teach about Black history across the spectrum of themes and eras set out in the curriculum. For example, at Key Stage 1, schools can teach about the lives of key Black historical figures such as Mary Seacole and Rosa Parks or others; and at Key Stage 3, cover the development and end of the British Empire and Britain’s transatlantic slave trade, its effects and its eventual abolition. The teaching of Black history need not be limited to these examples.

Further Education: Assessments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that practical exams or assignments to assess the skills and safety of students that were due to take place in further education settings are able to take place.

Gillian Keegan: It is imperative that as many students as possible receive their results this summer so they can progress to the next stage in education or employment. The department has been working closely with Ofqual to agree how this can be done. Some results will be calculated and some assessments will be adapted. Where a qualification is used to signal occupational competence, the assessments may need to be delayed, in which case they should be completed as soon as possible.Ofqual has published its framework for the awarding of results for vocational and technical qualifications: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-assessment-and-grading-in-2020. This framework sets out what awarding organisations must do to provide results for students who were due to take assessments this summer.Ofqual and awarding organisations are working with schools, colleges and other providers to implement these measures. Ofqual has also published an online interactive tool - https://analytics.ofqual.gov.uk/apps/AllQualifications/summer2020tool/ - which contains information on how results will be generated for individual qualifications.

Home Education: Sheffield South East

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for each of the secondary schools in Sheffield South East constituency, how many computers have been provided to date to allow disadvantaged pupils to study from home.

Nick Gibb: The Department is providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children, or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing 4G wireless routers.Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and distribute the laptops and tablets to children and young people who need devices. The Department invited local authorities to order devices for the most vulnerable children first - those with a social worker and care leavers.Computer devices are being delivered to local authorities and academy trusts daily and will continue to be distributed throughout June.

Further Education and Skilled Workers: Coronavirus

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the ability of (a) people to access appropriate further education skills training and (b) of employers to recruit skilled workers to support recovery after the covid-19 outbreak..

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made on the effect of covid-19 on the availability of support and training for post-16 students; and whether his Department plans to publish guidance on post-16 education and training due to begin in September 2020.

Gillian Keegan: Training is vital in order to provide the highly skilled workforce that employers need to support the recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak.We have supported further education providers and introduced a range of flexibilities, including encouraging online delivery, so that as many learners as possible can successfully complete their courses. We have also ensured that furloughed workers are able to start apprenticeships. We have frequently engaged with further education providers to monitor the level of training that they are able to deliver and we have been actively working with them to address issues. From 15 June, providers should begin to offer some face to face contact to 16 to 19 learners in the first year of a 2-year study programme. We want to have all learners back into education settings, as soon as the scientific advice allows, because it is the best place for them to learn and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers and teachers. We will also continue to work with providers and employers to ensure that they deliver the skills that our workers and economy need. This includes looking at ensuring that we support employers, especially small businesses, to take on new apprentices this year. In addition, we have launched a new online Skills Toolkit to provide free high quality digital and numeracy courses, the skills most sought after by employers. We have also already announced that we are providing an extra £3 billion over the course of this Parliament for a new National Skills Fund to help people learn new skills. Our latest guidance on COVID-19 for the post-16 sector and all other educational settings is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings. Guidance for education and training that is due to begin in September 2020 will be published in due course. These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Pupils: Computers

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his oral contribution of 9 June 2020, Official Report, column 180, when the 230,000 laptops for school pupils were ordered by his Department; and what schedule for delivery has been agreed with the supplier.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his oral contribution of 9 June 2020, Official Report, column 180, what the role of Computacentre is in distributing laptops to school pupils; on what basis that company was selected for that service; how much that company is being paid for that programme; and what checks his Department has conducted on that company's payment of tax in the UK.

Nick Gibb: The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets. This order was placed on 19 April.The Department is providing these devices in the shortest possible timeframe. Over 100,000 devices have been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts and thousands of devices continue to be delivered each day. Laptops and tablets will continue to be delivered throughout June.Computacenter is a supplier on a government framework. Computacenter has been contracted to provide laptops and tablets in order to meet the requirement for disadvantaged and vulnerable children across England to receive devices to support remote education and access to social care services during the COVID-19 outbreak.Further details of the contract are publicly available: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e9047eeb-be82-4506-8a97-448ff0d73cfe.As with all Government contracts, due diligence checks have been undertaken to assess the suitability of the supplier.

Schools: Protective Clothing

Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether schools will receive automatic funding from his Department to cover the cost of personal protective equipment.

Nick Gibb: We have worked closely with Public Health England (PHE) and stakeholders on our approach and guidance throughout the Department’s COVID-19 response. In particular, we have worked with PHE to issue guidance to all schools and nurseries on a hierarchy of controls which, when implemented, create an inherently safer system where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. These include measures such as ensuring that anyone with symptoms does not attend their school or nursery, cleaning hands regularly, good respiratory hygiene, regular cleaning of touched surfaces, minimising contact and mixing and, where needed, use of personal protective equipment (PPE).As our guidance details, the majority of staff in schools, nurseries and children’s social care settings will not require PPE beyond what they would normally need for their work, even if they are not always able to maintain a distance of 2 metres from others. PPE is only needed in a very small number of cases, which are set out clearly in our published guidance.Schools will continue to receive their core funding allocations through which PPE should be funded.The full guidance on safe working in schools, nurseries and children’s social care settings, including the use of PPE, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe.

Schools: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils in each education authority in England in (a) reception year, (b) Year 1 and (c) Year 6 returned to school in the week commencing 1 June 2020.

Nick Gibb: Data on pupil attendance in educational establishments since 23 March was published on Tuesday 9 June at the following link and covers data up to Thursday 4 June:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings.The attendance breakdown at a national level for year groups, which was published on 10 June, can be found in table 3 in the underlying data. The data is collected from individual education establishments and the published figures include estimates for non-response.

Lifeguards: Qualifications

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) estimate he has made of the number of and (b) assessment he has made of the reliability of National Pool Lifeguard Qualifications; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the expiry date of those qualifications to support the reopening of swimming pools as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2020 to Question 51783 on Prisons: Coronavirus, which custodial facilities in England and Wales had not fully implemented compartmentalisation as of 8 June 2020.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2020 to Question 51783 on Prisons: Coronavirus, how many temporary accommodation units have been (a) delivered to HMPPS sites, (b) fully fitted and prepared for prisoner accommodation, and (c) occupied by prisoners as of 8 June 2020.

Lucy Frazer: As of the 8 June 2020 there were 854 temporary accommodation units delivered to sites across England and Wales. Installation to the agreed minimum level had been completed for 339 units. Once installation is completed a number of operational processes are required before they can be occupied. 224 units were in occupation. As of 8 June 2020 the following prisons had not yet fully implemented compartmentalisation:HMPs Sudbury, Leyhill, Springhill, Bure, Elmley

Prisons: Education

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether support payments for organisations with contracts under the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System and which are eligible to apply for covid-19 relief payments will be paid from (a) a central fund for HMPPS, (b) individual prison budgets or (c) other public sources.

Lucy Frazer: Under the COVID-19 procurement process, the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System contracts are paid in line with the existing payment schedule. The payments are funded from the annual HMPPS (business as usual) education budget.

Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many civil legal aid claims for asylum appeal cases exceeded the escape fee from legal aid providers in (a) London and (b) England and Wales.

Alex Chalk: FINANCIAL YEARLONDON ESCAPE CLAIMSALL ESCAPE CLAIMS2016-174154692017-184625072018-195286002019-20*347404*Please note: The figures for the year 2019-20 covers only the months April to December 2019.

Prisoners' Release: Homelessness

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners released from each prison in 2019-20 were released without a fixed address.

Lucy Frazer: We recognise that it is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere safe and secure to live as a platform to access the services and support needed to stop the cycle of reoffending.Data on the accommodation status of prisoners released from each prison between 2019 and 2020 is not yet available but is due for publication on 30 July 2020.The Government has now decided that because of public health and public protection considerations, there is a need to provide accommodation for prison leavers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Justice has secured appropriate funding for a time-limited period to support the provision of accommodation for all individuals released from prison during this period, who are at risk of homelessness. The temporary accommodation scheme will run until 26th June at which point it will be reviewed, taking account of the situation at that time. This is an exceptional measure reflecting the current challenges. Additionally, we are also working in collaboration with other Government Departments and interested parties to help to secure a range of accommodation options for prisoners on their release.

Courts

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral evidence of the Lord Chief Justice to the Justice Select Committee on 14 May 2020, whether he plans to reopen all courts by the end of June 2020.

Chris Philp: During oral evidence given to the Justice Select Committee on 14 May, the Lord Chief Justice advised the panel of an intention to reopen sites by the end of June, subject to a number of logistical issues. We continue to work closely with the judiciary to reopen courts when it is safe to do so, and in line with public health guidance. Plans for the reopening of each court are subject to the necessary assessment of operational readiness, which is available here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-courts-and-tribunals-planning-and-preparation#assessing-and-managing-coronavirus-risk Since the beginning of June 2020, HM Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS) has reopened over 20 sites and we will continue to work with the judiciary and public health bodies to reopen more in the coming weeks.

Courts: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the backlog of cases involving serious criminal offences was in the Crown Courts in (a) Wales (b) Gwent for each month from June 2019 to June 2020.

Chris Philp: This information is not held separately for Gwent as the Crown in Newport is administered from Cardiff.Total outstanding serious offences in the Crown CourtMonthWalesJune545July502August511September461October437November418December402

Courts: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the backlog of domestic violence cases was in the (a) Crown Courts and (b) Magistrates' Courts in (i) Wales (ii) Gwent for each month from June 2019 to June 2020.

Chris Philp: This information is not held centrally and would require reviewing individual court files in each month specified. The requested information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, please be reassured that Domestic Violence Protection Orders are being prioritised.

Courts: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the backlog of cases relating to the possession and supply of drugs was in the (a) Crown Courts and (b) Magistrates' Courts in (i) Wales (ii) Gwent for each month from June 2019 to June 2020.

Chris Philp: This information for the Crown Court is not held separately for Gwent as the Crown Court in Newport is administered from Cardiff. MonthWales outstanding drug offences in Crown CourtWales outstanding drug offences in the Magistrates’ courtGwent outstanding drug offences in the magistrates’ courtJune19834241July18632530August17330930September15931634October18232856November18329825December17131327

Courts and Tribunals

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases were heard in (a) family courts, (b) civil courts, (c) magistrates courts, (d) crown courts, and (e) tribunals, in each month in 2019.

Chris Philp: Please find attached Annex A showing data on how many cases were heard in (a) family courts, (b) civil courts, (c) magistrates courts and (d) crown courts in each month in 2019. In addition, please find Annex B showing data on how many cases were heard in (e) tribunals, in each month in 2019. Data relating to this annex looks at the three large tribunals: Immigration & Asylum, Employment Tribunals and Social Security and Child Support, and those special tribunals where we can supply a monthly breakdown of the data held in the published stats. There are other tribunals where this level of detail not currently available.



Annex A - 57201
(PDF Document, 426.09 KB)




Annex B - 57201
(PDF Document, 438.26 KB)

Courts and Tribunals

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases were heard in (a) family courts, (b) civil courts, (c) magistrates courts, (d) crown courts, and (e) tribunals in each month in 2020.

Chris Philp: please find attached Annex A showing data on how many cases were heard in (a) family courts, (b) civil courts, (c) magistrates courts and (d) crown courts in each month in 2020. Jan-Mar 2020 cases heard has been provided for civil. Parts a, c, d plus April onwards for part b are not yet published so cannot be provided. In addition, please find Annex B showing on how many cases were heard in (e) tribunals, in each month in 2020. Data relating to this annex looks at the three large tribunals: Immigration & Asylum, Employment Tribunals and Social Security and Child Support, and those special tribunals where we can supply a monthly breakdown of the data held in the published stats. There are other tribunals where this level of detail not currently available. Jan-Mar 2020 cases heard has been provided for civil. Parts a, c, d plus April onwards for part b are not yet published so cannot be provided



Annex A - 57202
(PDF Document, 322.44 KB)




Annex B - 57202
(PDF Document, 438.26 KB)

Courts and Tribunals

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases were adjourned in (a) family courts, (b) civil courts, (c) magistrates courts, (d) crown courts, and (e) tribunals in each month in 2019.

Chris Philp: Please find attached Annex A  which shows data for the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), Social Security and Child Support, Mental Health, and Special Educational Needs and Disability, MoJ publishes figures on adjournments as part of national statistics.For Magistrates’ courts and Crown Courts, figures on adjournments are not collated but figures on vacated form part of the newly published weekly stats. Comprehensive figures for adjournments are not held for other tribunals and the family and civil courts.



Annex A - 57203
(PDF Document, 511.87 KB)

Prisons: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) proportion of prison staff who have been tested for covid-19.

Lucy Frazer: The Department of Health and Social Care is solely responsible for testing for Covid-19 both in the community and in secure settings. As such, we do not hold data on staff testing. On 24 April, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced the rollout of Covid-19 testing for all essential workers and symptomatic members of their household, including prison staff, those working in Approved Premises (APs) and probation staff (including private sector service providers) in England. We have referred over 4,000 HMPPS staff for testing to date. In Wales, testing for prison, AP and probation staff and symptomatic members of their household is being delivered through local resilience forum arrangements and through local health boards. What we do know is the number of confirmed cases among those who have been tested, which was 947 as of Friday, 5 June. This data is self-reported.

Prisons: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of personal protective equipment for prison staff during the covid-19 outbreak.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) items of personal protective equipment, (b) masks and (c) bottles of hand gel have been delivered to prisons since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Lucy Frazer: Personal protective equipment is critical to protect staff and those in our care where close contact is necessary and unavoidable. There is currently adequate stock and forward supply of PPE, in accordance with public health advice. We have stock in the hundreds of thousands for aprons, coveralls, eye protection, pairs of gloves, respirator masks and fluid-resistant surgical masks, as well as hand sanitiser. However, we are making continued preparations and keeping demand for PPE under regular review as we move into the next phase of managing this outbreak.

Prison Accommodation

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prisoners sharing cells in each prison in each of the last three months.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to reduce the level of sharing of prison bedrooms during the covid-19 outbreak.

Lucy Frazer: We are implementing our compartmentalisation strategy (isolating the symptomatic; quarantining new arrivals; and shielding the vulnerable) in the prison estate. The latest PHE modelling indicates this strategy has shown early signs of success. We are increasing headroom in the prison estate to better enable prisons to implement compartmentalisation and reduce the number of prisoners sharing cells. This has been actioned through a combination of the early release of low-risk offenders, provision of temporary accommodation and expediting remand hearings to reduce the unsentenced population. We are installing over 1,000 temporary cells to increase space and help reduce the spread of the virus. These units are being placed where there are the highest number of shared cells, a lack of in-cell sanitation and where there are high numbers of vulnerable prisoners. We have also opened an Annex at HMP/YOI Rochester to hold up to 70 men. Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including health concerns. The table below identifies the number of prisoners, broken down by establishment, sharing cells holding two or more people as at 27 March, 24 April and 29 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system Total number of prisoners sharing cellsPrisonMar-20Apr-20May-20Altcourse731688684Ashfield150150152Askham Grange67680Aylesbury000Bedford268250242Belmarsh426467476Berwyn1,1641,0981,056Birmingham587479582Brinsford254256290Bristol230221217Brixton610536532Bronzefield138120104Buckley Hall888072Bullingdon750699737Bure381410Cardiff420408398Channings Wood946244Chelmsford350322302Coldingley40240Cookham Wood000Dartmoor000Deerbolt141614Doncaster775755760Dovegate226218224Downview000Drake Hall976541Durham754850744East Sutton Park939586Eastwood Park1119380Elmley686703683Erlestoke867864Exeter320352334Featherstone130110110Feltham196178130Ford000Forest Bank823873801Foston Hall120118142Frankland000Full Sutton000Garth282222Gartree222422Grendon000Guys Marsh13612098Hatfield985816Haverigg000High Down686668633Highpoint286248236Hindley240254248Hewell612606508Hollesley Bay787344Holme House776730724Hull594608555Humber358296260Huntercombe234230208Isis312290246Isle Of Wight150156156Kirkham862416Kirklevington Grange000Lancaster Farms12666120Leeds793654746Leicester243231219Lewes304274176Leyhill1720Lincoln492476422Lindholme344332336Littlehey222184134Liverpool384430412Long Lartin000Low Newton501812Lowdham Grange426Maidstone646452Manchester354326284Moorland434388258New Hall614532North Sea Camp259252164Northumberland400Norwich308275250Nottingham420428402Oakwood962862810Onley154162154Parc800706736Pentonville814634668Peterborough358362398Peterborough Female11610074Portland146142128Prescoed787836Preston517535441Ranby396336322Risley216198178Rochester322274218Rye Hill172160158Send1400Spring Hill002Stafford584562508Standford Hill000Stocken238242240Stoke Heath322318302Styal234235235Sudbury372298232Swaleside200Swansea343303254Swinfen Hall989662Thameside798710680The Mount224218220The Verne282721Thorn Cross845836Usk239219207Wakefield000Wandsworth1,1761,1461,120Warren Hill000Wayland344304286Wealstun5000Werrington000Wetherby000Whatton190136112Whitemoor000Winchester236222238Woodhill805424Wormwood Scrubs601558601Wymott1326816Total31,85529,62327,845

Prisoners' Release: Homelessness

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners were released without a fixed address from each prison in financial year 2015-2016.

Lucy Frazer: Information relating to the proportion of prisoners who were released from each prison without a fixed address between 2015 and 2016 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Government has now decided that because of public health and public protection considerations, there is a need to provide accommodation for prison leavers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Justice has secured appropriate funding for a time-limited period to support the provision of accommodation for all individuals released from prison during this period, who are at risk of homelessness. The temporary accommodation scheme will run until 26th June at which point it will be reviewed, taking account of the situation at that time. This is an exceptional measure reflecting the current challenges. Additionally, we are also working in collaboration with other government departments and interested parties to help to secure a range of accommodation options for prisoners on their release.Whilst our immediate concern is to support those individuals released from prison into suitable accommodation, in the long-term we will analyse the lessons learned during this period, to further develop how we can improve the accommodation offer for those with a history of offending.

Courts: Coronavirus

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether workplace risk assessments were (a) shared and (b) agreed with staff unions before the decision to reopen courts was taken; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Philp: As a Government, we have outlined the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus, and the control measures required to avoid exposure and transmission. In parallel, we have been clear that the work of the justice system must continue throughout the prevailing public health emergency. Accordingly, it has been necessary to keep some courts and tribunal buildings open, and we are working hard to open more so long as that can be achieved safely.HMCTS is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all staff, members of the judiciary and visitors to its sites, as far as it is reasonably practical whilst they are on the premises.In order to aid implementation of the required control measures, and to monitor and assure ourselves of compliance, we developed and implemented an assessment tool to be carried out in each of our open sites.The tool was developed in consultation with trade union health and safety representatives. The finalised tool was issued to each site, with instruction that it should wherever possible be completed in conjunction and consultation with a Trade Union representative. I understand that wherever possible our officials did conduct those assessments with trade union colleagues, and continue to do so as the results are regularly reviewed.We are confident that our open sites are safe, and can confirm risk assessments will be available to be shared on request very soon.

Courts: Coronavirus

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information on assessed risks from covid-19 in courts was shared with staff unions before jury trials restarted; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Philp: A judicial led Jury Trials Working Group (JTWG) was set up to establish ways in which jury trials can be commenced safely. The JTWG developed a Crown Court Jury Trial checklist which was discussed with the Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS) on 30 April and a copy shared with them on 4 May. Completed risk assessments were shared with the DTUS before the first jury trials resumed on 18 May.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Coronavirus

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of availability of personal protective equipment for HM Courts and Tribunal Service staff who are not able to socially distance in the workplace during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Philp: HM Courts & Tribunals Service has comprehensively assessed the risk to its staff and users. We have published and implemented safety controls to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Face coverings are available on request for staff, judges and jurors. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is available to staff where local assessments show that this is necessary. In line with Government guidance, PPE will be reserved for those most at risk of close contact through their workplace, such as security officers involved in interventions, fire-marshals and first-aiders. We are keeping the use and distribution of PPE under close review and we will continue to ensure that we comply with Government guidance.

Courts: Opening Hours

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish the evaluation of the Flexible Operating Hours pilot scheme.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many participants there were in the Flexible Operating Hours pilot scheme.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many participants in the Flexible Operating Hours pilot scheme were (a) female and (b) from a Black, Minority and Ethnic background.

Chris Philp: HMCTS has appointed a consortium of IFF Research and Frontier Economics to carry out an independent evaluation of the Flexible Operating Hours pilots. The evaluation report will be published following completion, in the autumn.The evaluation is being conducted as set out in the evaluation plan, published July 2019: Data has been collected on the number of cases heard in Flexible Operating Hours sessions rather than on numbers of participants. Public user surveys distributed to all participants in an FOH sessions contained 19 optional questions related to equality and diversity. This information is being collected by the independent evaluators and will inform their final report.

Prison Sentences

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) women and (b) men received a prison sentence of under six months in (i) March, (ii) April and (iii) May 2020.

Chris Philp: The requested data is not available at this time. National Statistics on sentencing for the first and second quarter of 2020 are due for publication in August and November 2020, with detailed data, including offender characteristic, for the whole of 2020 planned for publication in May 2021.

Magistrates: Video Conferencing

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many video hearings were conducted by magistrates courts in each of the last three months.

Chris Philp: The estimated number of video hearings conducted in the Magistrates’ Courts in the last three months is:April 20205,298May 202020,845June 2020 (to 11th June 2020)9,114This data is manually collated each day and reported by individual courts and must be considered in that light with all the inherent risks in relation to possible input errors and missed submissions.

Treasury

Loans: Coronavirus

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that future lending decisions are not affected by payment holidays that have been taken during the covid-19 outbreak.

John Glen: The Government recognises the important role payment holidays play in providing temporary support to consumers through this period and continues to work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to support consumers facing financial difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Lenders must act responsibly when deciding whether and how much credit to issue. This includes assessing consumers’ ability to repay. The information on a consumer’s credit file is an important part of this assessment. FCA guidance makes clear that, during a payment holiday, accounts should be recorded to ensure the consumers’ current credit data position is maintained or frozen for the duration of the payment holiday period. The Government expects that this should not impact on a consumer’s credit file. Consumers should speak to their lender about their options when coming to the end of their payment holiday.

Companies: Coronavirus

Karl Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the employers that are participating in Project Birch.

Steve Barclay: The Government does not comment on individual cases but will notify Parliament of the spending incurred as the result of any support provided.

Concert Halls and Theatres: VAT

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing zero-rated VAT on ticket income for theatres and music venues.

Jesse Norman: VAT is an important source of revenue for the Exchequer and plays an important part in funding the Government’s spending priorities including hospitals, schools and defence, raising £130 billion in 2019/2020.Given this context, while all taxes are kept under review, there are currently no plans to apply a zero-rate of VAT on ticket income for theatres and music venues.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Females

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has undertaken an equality impact assessment of the terms of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme on women who have taken time out from earning for (a) maternity and (b) childcare reasons in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: HMT takes care to pay due regard to the equality impacts of its policy decisions relating to the Covid-19 outbreak, including the equality impacts of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, in line with all legal requirements and the Government’s commitment to promoting equality.

Non-domestic Rates: Environment Protection

Alex Norris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a reduction in business rates on the incentivisation of businesses to invest in carbon reduction measures.

Jesse Norman: Plant and machinery used to provide services within a property, such as solar power, is normally included in the business rate assessment; this is an established principle in the business rates system and ensures all buildings’ assessments include the services they need for their use. However, the Government is continuing to support the take up of solar panels by maintaining the business rates exemption for solar power generating equipment (less than 50kW) between its installation and the next business rates revaluation. As set out in the Terms of Reference published at Budget, the treatment of plant and machinery will also be considered through the fundamental review of business rates.

Aviation and Tourism: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment the Government has made of the economic effect of the covid-19 quarantine on (a) airlines, (b) airports, and (c) tourism and hospitality businesses.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government wants the UK to open up for travel as soon as it is safe to do so. The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors and has provided an unprecedented package of support for workers and businesses to support them through the current economic emergency.

Agricultural Shows: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support is available for providers of agricultural and country shows during the covid-19 outbreak; and what support is available for mobile providers of those shows who do not have fixed property.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. Where they have business premises, agro-event hire companies may benefit from one of the grants schemes announced on 17 March: The Small Business Grant Fund, which provides eligible businesses with a £10,000 grant per property, for each property in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rates Relief (RRR).The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, which provides eligible businesses, not in receipt of SBRR or RRR, with a £10,000 grant per property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less; and £25,000 grant per property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.  Agro-event hire companies without premises, along with other businesses, may benefit from a range of other support measures. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Food: Wholesale Trade

Kate Hollern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to extend eligibility for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant to food and drink wholesalers that supply to care homes, hospitals and schools.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by COVID-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) is intended to help small businesses in this situation. Local Authorities (LAs) can choose to make discretionary grants to businesses in supply chains, like the wholesale food and drink sector, if they feel there is a particular local economic need. The Government has allocated up to an additional £617 million to LAs to enable them to give discretionary grants. While food and drink wholesalers are not one of the priority groups which Government has asked LAs to focus on, LAs may choose to make payments to businesses outside of these priority groups if they feel there is a local economic need to do so, so long as the business was trading on 11th March, and has not received any other cash grant funded by central Government (with the exception of grants from the SEISS). Small businesses which are not eligible for business grants should still be able to benefit from other elements of the Government’s unprecedented package of support. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Mortgages: Coronavirus

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to mitigate the financial pressures faced by mortgage prisoners during the covid-19 lockdown; and what plans he has to enable mortgage prisoners to switch to new lenders.

John Glen: On 17 March the Chancellor announced the availability of a three-month mortgage holiday as part of an unprecedented package of support for individuals, businesses and the economy affected by Covid-19. This help was further extended on 2 June through the publication of FCA guidance. This guidance applies to all firms that engage in mortgage activities to instruct them to offer support to customers that are experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19.The Government has also taken action with the FCA to support mortgage prisoners by removing the regulatory barriers that previously prevented some from switching. Lenders are currently making the necessary adjustments and system changes to enable mortgage prisoners to switch and we expect them to start offering borrowers products using the new rules soon.

Legal Profession: Scotland

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of evidence from the Law Society of Scotland that 32 per cent of Scotland's law firms are limited companies which are excluded from the Self Employed Income Support Scheme and being mainly sole traders are entitled to support under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme only if they fully withdraw from providing legal services to their clients.

Jesse Norman: The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is available to individuals who are self-employed and who report their trading income through Income Tax Self-Assessment. Those who pay themselves a salary through their own company are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim a CJRS grant for the hours not worked. Firms may have access to a range of grants and loans depending on their circumstances, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Bounce Back Loans, and the deferral of tax payments.

Self-employed: Coronavirus

Simon Baynes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support freelance and self-employed people who take only dividends from their business.

Jesse Norman: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer to Parliamentary Question 54215 on 9 June 2020.

Members: Correspondence

David Linden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 19 February 2020, reference DL4850, from the hon. Member for Glasgow East.

Kemi Badenoch: HMT asked HMRC to respond as it has operational responsibility for tax credits. Ruth Stanier, Director General, duly replied to Mr Linden’s letter on 11 June. HMRC apologises for the delay in replying, which was caused by competing priorities following the COVID-19 outbreak. HMRC assures Mr Linden that his constituent has not been disadvantaged by this delay.

Social Enterprises: Coronavirus

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to encourage take up of the social investment tax relief scheme to rebuild communities after the covid-19 outbreak.

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the use of the social investment tax relief scheme to support the Government's strategy to tackle loneliness.

Jesse Norman: SITR is designed to support a broad range of social enterprises, which may have a variety of social missions and community benefits. The Government committed to a full review of SITR within two years of its expansion, and published a Call for Evidence last year on the use of the SITR scheme to date, including as to why it has been used less than anticipated and what impact it has had on access to finance for social enterprises. A Summary of Responses to the Call for Evidence will be published in due course. The Government is committed to helping social enterprises and charities through the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has helped to accelerate the release of previously committed dormant bank account money. This initiative has enabled Big Society Capital to establish and capitalise a Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund, which aims to improve access to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) for social enterprises.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Patrick Grady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of extending the eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to those whose self-employment income makes up less than 50 per cent of their annual income on the (a) cost of that scheme and (b) number of eligible claimants.

Patrick Grady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to those whose self-employment income makes up less than 50 per cent of their annual income.

Jesse Norman: The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) continues to be one of the most generous self-employed COVID-19 support schemes in the world as the economy reopens. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) undertook an initial assessment of the impact of requiring an individual’s trading profits to be at least equal to their non-trading income. This was set out in a letter from Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary of HMRC, to the Treasury Select Committee on 5 May 2020, which is available at https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1151/documents/9923/default/. HMRC’s analysis of Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) data for 2017-18 suggested that of the 5.75 million individuals deemed as having some form of self-employment in 2017-18, 1.73 million received less than half of their total income from self-employment trading profits. The self-employed are very diverse and have a wide mix of turnover and profits, with monthly and annual variations even in normal times, and in some cases with substantial alternative forms of income too. The design of the SEISS, including the eligibility requirement that an individual’s trading profits must be no more than £50,000 and at least equal to their non-trading income, means it is targeted at those who most need it, and who are most reliant on their self-employment income. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said there will be no further extension or changes to the SEISS. Individuals receiving more than half their income from other sources may still be eligible for other elements of the unprecedented financial support provided by the Government. The SEISS is one element of a comprehensive package of support for individuals and businesses, including Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, increased levels of Universal Credit, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

Roadchef: Employee Benefit Trusts

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress his Department has made on resolving the dispute between HMRC and the Roadchef Employee Benefits Trust; whether that case can be used as a precedent for other claims; and if he will make it his policy to include a relevant clause in legislative proposals brought forward by his Department to remove the obstacle to payments being made from the Trust to its beneficiaries.

Jesse Norman: The administration of the tax system is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs, who have indicated that they are in dialogue with the taxpayer. It would not be appropriate for Treasury ministers to become involved in the administration of the tax system in specific cases.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps is he taking to ensure that customers of all banks are able to access loans from the Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan scheme.

John Glen: The Government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), launched 4 May, was designed to help the smallest businesses access loans up to £50,000. As of June 7, over 782,000 loan facilities have been approved with a value of over £23.7bn. There are so far 21 accredited lenders offering finance under the scheme, and this number continues to grow. The British Business Bank who are responsible for administrating the scheme, have put substantial resources into onboarding new lenders as quickly as possible. If an SME’s main lender does not offer Bounce Back Loans, businesses can go to another accredited lender. Several accredited lenders are accepting applications from new customers.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Dunfermline and West Fife

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses based in the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: As of 11 June 2020, 1,110 claims have been made under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by PAYE schemes registered at an address within the boundaries of the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will include in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme employees who are paid annually via PAYE at the end of the financial year.

Angela Crawley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for employees of companies which make a yearly RTI submission by using information from 2018-19.

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling people who are paid annually but whose Real Time Information was submitted after 19 March 2020 for the 2019-20 tax year to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: For an employee to be eligible for the CJRS they must have been notified to HMRC on a real-time information (RTI) submission on or before 19 March. Those paid annually are eligible to claim, as long as they meet the relevant conditions including being notified to HMRC on an RTI submission on or before 19 March 2020, which relates to a payment of earnings in the 2019/2020 tax year. Anyone paid annually and notified on an RTI submission after that date will not be eligible for the scheme, which puts them in the same position as those who are paid more frequently and were not notified to HMRC on or before 19 March. The 19 March date allows as many people as possible to be included by going right up to the day before the announcement and mitigates the risk of fraud that existed as soon as the scheme became public.

Self-employed: Coronavirus

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason he has not amended the Self Employment Income Support Scheme or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to introduce temporary support for the self-employed who are employed by a series of short-term PAYE contracts and have not been registered for support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by previous employers.

Jesse Norman: The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is available to individuals who are self-employed and who report their trading income through Income Tax Self-Assessment. To be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), furloughed employees must have been on their employers’ PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 and HMRC must have received an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before the 19 March 2020. It is not possible to amend this deadline owing to the practical implications of monitoring such an extension, and the risk of fraud that has existed since the scheme became public. Those who do not qualify for SEISS or CJRS may have to access a range of other support, including income tax deferrals, access to a range of grants and loans, and three-month mortgage holidays. The Government has also relaxed the earnings rules for self-employed claimants under Universal Credit.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Directors

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons he has not amended the Self Employed Income Support Scheme to include directors of small and medium limited companies who draw their income through dividends.

Jesse Norman: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer to Parliamentary Question 54215 on 9 June 2020.

Members: Correspondence

Neil Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 13 May 2020 from the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts, reference NG12034.

Jesse Norman: The Honourable Member’s correspondence was transferred from Number 10 to HM Treasury on 18 May. The Treasury responded via email on 11 June.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the comparative equity of the £50,000 annual trading profit threshold for determining an applicant's eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and the absence of an equivalent threshold under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer to Parliamentary Question 51693 on 4 June 2020.

Cash Dispensing

Jamie Stone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Payment Systems Regulator on a minimum service guarantee for cash; and with reference to the March 2020 Budget whether he has a timeframe for bringing forward legislative proposals on protecting access to cash.

Jamie Stone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support people who require access to (a) offline and (b) face-to-face banking during the covid-19 outbreak.

John Glen: The Government recognises that cash remains extremely important to the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. The Government remains closely engaged with the financial regulators to monitor and assess risks around cash access and acceptance resulting from COVID-19. This includes working closely with industry to ensure access to cash. At the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash in the longer-term. The Government is engaging with regulators – the Payment Systems Regulator, Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of England – and stakeholders across industry while designing legislation, to ensure the needs of cash users continue to be met. Further details on timing for legislation will be set out in due course. Regarding face-to-face banking, the Government has been working closely with the financial regulators to ensure that banks, building societies, the Post Office and credit unions continue to maintain branch access for essential services while balancing the needs of their customers with the safety and welfare of staff. The vast majority of branches are open, though many are open for reduced hours. Banks, building societies and credit unions are keeping their websites up to date and we would encourage customers, wherever possible, to use online services for their banking. If customers are not able to use online forms of banking, they may choose to use telephone banking rather than using a branch. The Government advises any customer who has questions or concerns about their banking to contact their provider. Bank customers can also use the Post Office for essential banking services as an alternative to their branch and can continue to use ATMs or cash machines as normal for cash withdrawals and balance enquiries. Furthermore, several retail banks have in place solutions for vulnerable customers who may be self-isolating, including making payments through a trusted person.

Retail Trade: Coronavirus

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce further financial support for retail businesses with lower level of trade than before the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Kemi Badenoch: On 11 May the Government published its COVID-19 recovery strategy which sets out our plan for moving to the next phase of our response. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap for easing existing measures in a safe and measured way. Our aim is that all non-essential retail will be able to reopen by 15 June if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review, and we will continue to work hard to support business and workers as the situation evolves. Retail businesses continue to have access to a range of government support measures including: A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in EnglandSmall business grant funding (SBGF) of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate reliefThe retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund (RHLGF)The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)The Covid Corporate Financing Scheme (CCFF)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Companies: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies registered under each Standard Industrial Classification Code (a) applied for and (b) been awarded support through the (a) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, (b) Small Business Grant Fund, (c) Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, (d) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, (e) Future Fund, (f) Bounce Back Loan and (g) Large Business Interruption Loan scheme; and what the amount of each of those awards was.

Kemi Badenoch: The four government backed loan schemes have seen over £40bn lent to hundreds of thousands of businesses, whilst, as of midnight 7th June, 8.9 million jobs had been furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), with a total of £19.6bn claimed, and 2.6 million claims had been made through the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), with a total value of £7.5 bn. The VAT deferral is worth over £30 billion or 1.5% of GDP with £22.4bn deferred by 251,000 businesses so far. The Government has published aggregate application and approval figures on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) and Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) since 12 May but does not hold specific breakdown information relating to collective sectors or organisations which have accessed these schemes, including under the Standard Classification for Economic Activities (SIC). The Government is actively considering what further data can be made available in the future. HMRC published Official Statistics for the CJRS and the SEISS, including a breakdown of sectoral recipients, on 11 June. These can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/891249/Coronavirus_Job_Retention_Scheme_Statistics_June_2020.pdf and https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/891603/SEISS_Official_Statistics_June_2020.pdf.

Debts: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on household debt; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the level of credit card debt; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The Government is conducting on-going work to understand and monitor the current and future effects of COVID-19 on consumer debt. This data is still under development.Regulatory responsibility for the consumer credit market lies with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA continues to monitor the credit card market and stands ready to act wherever consumer detriment is identified.The Government has taken steps to support individuals and businesses through this difficult time, including providing an additional £37.8 million for debt advice providers helping people affected by COVID-19.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Religious Buildings: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what scientific advice he has received on the safe reopening of places or worship, and if he will publish that advice.

Luke Hall: The Government is working to publish evidence documents and studies, including from Public Health England, which have formed the basis of SAGE’s discussions and advice to Ministers, regularly, and will publish more evidence in the coming weeks.

Floods: Property Development

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to prevent the building of new homes (a) in flood risk areas and (b) on flood plains.

Christopher Pincher: National planning policy on managing flood risk was last updated in 2018 and is clear that inappropriate development in areas at current or future risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains, towards areas at least risk. Only water compatible or essential infrastructure developments are allowed in the functional floodplain, where water has to flow or be stored during times of flood. Where development is necessary in a flood risk area, and where there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower risk of flooding, it should be made safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere and be appropriately flood resistant and resilient.As announced in Planning for the Future, We will review our policy for building in areas at flood risk; this will seek to ensure that communities across the country know that future development will be safe from floods. We will assess whether current protections in national planning policy are enough and consider options for further reform.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 14 May 2020 to Question HL3740, what assessment he has made of level of resources required to secure delivery of the over 10,000 affordable homes supported through the Community Housing Fund that can be delivered relatively quickly once capital funding is made available; if he will make it his policy to provide bridging funding to enable those projects that are ready to be delivered to get on site by the Autumn; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Pincher: The level of resources required to deliver all of the community-led housebuilding schemes currently within the Homes England Community Housing Fund Programme will depend on a range of factors including: the amount of funding already received as pre-development revenue grant; the tenure mix (including market sale or rent) and local variations in the build costs of individual schemes.Recent data from Homes England indicates an average capital grant allocation of £48,000 per unit and a further revenue grant requirement of £3,500 per unit.As at May 2020, the Homes England programme has current applications for schemes anticipating the delivery of 10,780 homes, including 4,347 homes from applications that have already been allocated revenue or capital funding (or both).The total grant requirement to deliver the 10,780 homes within the Homes England programme is therefore likely to be approximately £555 million, of which £12.3 million has already been paid in revenue grant and £2.5 million paid in capital grant.The Community Housing Fund closed at the end of March. Where they are appropriately constituted and registered as providers of social housing (Registered Provider), community groups may apply for capital funding from the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme (SOAHP). Those which are not registered may apply in partnership with a Registered Provider.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the ability of people who are shielding to access existing support for accessing (a) food, (b) medicines, (c) other essentials.

Christopher Pincher: The Government has established an outbound call centre to proactively call people who have not yet registered to confirm their support needs. Up to 200,000 calls a day have been made at peak volumes. The shielding programme was set up at an unprecedented speed in March to help clinically extremely vulnerable individuals access support, including food, basic supplies and medicines. Anyone who has an NHS or GP letter advising them they need to shield, and has registered as having no other means of accessing food, has been eligible for a Government parcel containing food and essential supplies to be delivered to their home. For those who have requested support, we have delivered over 2.5 million food packages to those at highest risk across England, and an NHS Medicine Delivery Service is available from community pharmacies and dispensing doctors where family, friends or volunteers cannot collect prescriptions. In April alone community pharmacies provided over 400,000 free medicine deliveries to shielding individuals. Additionally, the Department works closely with local authorities so that they can also adequately support their shielding population.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) financial, (b) emotional an (c) additional support the Government plans to provide to people (i) who are shielding, (ii) who live with people who are shielding and (iii) identified as clinically vulnerable when the family members and volunteers they rely on return to work as lockdown restrictions are lifted during the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: The Government launched the shielding programme in March to help clinically extremely vulnerable individuals get food parcels, basic supplies and put them in contact with local services and volunteers to provide social and emotional support. The Government will continue to provide the support that the shielded in our communities need. We will continue with our package of financial support, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Income Support Package until October and Statutory Sick Pay. In line with the current public health advice, those living with shielding people are not advised to shield themselves, and should follow social distancing guidance, remaining alert and safe.

Schools: Community Relations

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the recommendations made in the Integrated Communities Strategy green paper published by his Department on 14 March 2018 on social mixing for children from different backgrounds, what steps he is taking to improve social mixing between pupils of different ethnicities in schools in line with those recommendations.

Luke Hall: We set out an ambitious programme of actions in our Integrated Communities Action Plan to support the education sector to drive forward integration, as part of a cross-government commitment to building strong integrated communities We recognise the important role that young people play in this agenda and the significance of forging meaningful connections and relationships with people from different backgrounds.   As part of this, we committed to working with the National Citizen Service Trust and DCMS to support social mixing opportunities for young people in areas of high segregation. We are also continuing to work with DfE to support the National Schools Linking Programme.

Hate Crime

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to maintain the programmes linked to the Hate Crime Action Plan beyond 2020.

Luke Hall: The Government is committed to preventing and tackling hate crime and with the participation of our civil society partners we are considering a range of options to tackle hate crime beyond the current action plan. In the interim we have ensured that key hate crime projects remain funded and we have launched a competitive grant scheme for 2020-21 to support projects related to our hate crime objectives with funds worth up to £2 million.

Integrated Communities Innovation Fund

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to extend the Integrated Communities Innovation Fund beyond 2020.

Luke Hall: We know that the causes of poor integration are complex and we have to admit that it will take generational change to truly deliver the well-integrated communities that we want to see. But first we need to know what works.The Integrated Communities Innovation Fund (2019/20) supported 16 projects to test innovative approaches to integration and generate important learning on how to bridge divides and bring communities together.The purpose of the Innovation Fund was to trial new approaches and address this evidence gap. In order to understand which interventions have been effective, we now need to review the findings. A national evaluator will compile this evidence, which will be shared widely and used to inform future policy.

Racial Discrimination

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department allocates from the public purse to tackling racism each year; and what proportion of his Department's resources has been allocated to race equality in 2019-2020.

Luke Hall: All forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable and tackling racially motivated hate crime remains a priority for this government.MHCLG paid approximately £219,00 to projects specifically to target racism in the financial year 19/20. These include Show Racism the Red Card and the Anne Frank Trust who work with young people across the country to challenge prejudice and discrimination. We are also supporting Kick It Out to tackle racism in sport and have confirmed funding for the Kingston Race Equality Council to improve support for victims of racially motivated hatred nationally.In addition to this, 2019 saw the first provision of an annual £500,000 grant to support Windrush Day celebrations. This annual grant will be providing £500,000 to a further 49 projects this year. Government has also committed to spending a total of £1 million on the Windrush monument, which will be placed in London Waterloo Station.We are committed to continue promoting shared values among people of all backgrounds through sustainable social integration and meaningful civic participation, whilst tackling and preventing religiously and racially discriminatory behaviour. To support this, we have launched a competitive grant scheme for 2020-21 to support projects in this space, with a budget of up to £2 million.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral evidence of the Minister of State to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on 18 May 2020 on Cladding: progress on remediation, what the source is for the number of high-risk buildings over 18 metres with flammable non-ACM cladding referred to by the Minister in his answer to Question 22.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral evidence of 18 May 2020 from Lord Greenhalgh to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on Cladding: progress on remediation, Q22, what proportion of the 1,700 high-risk buildings with flammable non-ACM cladding are (a) social sector and (b) private sector residential buildings.

Christopher Pincher: The Department estimates there to be 1,700 residential buildings over 18 metres in height with potentially unsafe non-ACM cladding. This is a working estimate produced by MHCLG officials to help with development of the Building Safety Fund. The estimate is continuously under review as we receive further information from building owners and local authorities and housing associations as part of the ongoing data collection exercise to gather information on the external wall systems of high-rise residential buildings . A refined estimate is due to be published in due course which will give further breakdowns such as tenure as appropriate and will be informed by the data we will gather from building owners following opening of registration for the Building Safety Fund on 1 June 2020.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) the £3.2 billion in funding allocated to help local authorities respond to the covid-19 outbreak and (b) any future funding to assist local authorities to support vulnerable groups during the covid-19 outbreak can be used to accommodate and support people with (i) conditions attached to their leave and (ii) no leave at all, and who have no recourse to public funds.

Luke Hall: The Government is aware of concerns about those with no recourse to public funds experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended.The Government recognises that these are unprecedented times, and expects local authorities to support people who are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.

Housing Occupancy: Coronavirus

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on people living in multi-generational households as lockdown restrictions are eased.

Christopher Pincher: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing Occupancy: Coronavirus

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on financial support for people living in multi-generational households who may be unable to return to work as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Christopher Pincher: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Homelessness

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what provision he is making for local authorities to continue the Everyone In campaign to house and support people who were street homeless.

Luke Hall: Almost 15,000 vulnerable people, including those who were street homeless, have been housed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown period, according to returns from local authorities to MHCLG.£3.2 billion has been provided to support councils to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, including supporting homeless people. This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding for councils to support vulnerable rough sleepers.On 24 May, the Secretary of State announced plans for thousands of long-term, safe homes to support many of the vulnerable rough sleepers who have been supported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, individuals taken off the streets during the pandemic can get the support they need to rebuild their lives.This unprecedented commitment – the biggest of its kind since the Government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative began – will be backed by £160 million in 2020/21 to inject 3,300 new units of accommodation over the next 12 months, part of 6,000 in total.This means in 2020/21 we are providing £606 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. This marks a £238 million increase in funding from the previous year and further demonstrates our commitment to assist the most vulnerable in society.

Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) business, (b) building and (c) individual risk assessments his Department has undertaken with regard to staff who are deemed to be carrying out essential work that requires them to attend an office.

Luke Hall: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Ministers' Private Offices

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many Private Office staff by grade were deemed to be carrying out essential work that required their daily physical attendance in 2 Marsham Street (a) before and (b) after Parliament’s Whitsun recess.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many Private Office staff by grade were deemed to be carrying out essential work that required their physical attendance in 2 Marsham Street on some days of the week (a) before and (b) after Parliament’s Whitsun recess.

Luke Hall: In line with guidance from the Cabinet Office, a very small number of officials are voluntarily undertaking essential work in 2 Marsham Street on some days of the weekAs the number of officials is so small, it would not be appropriate to identify them by grade.

Planning: Reform

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he expects to introduce a White Paper on Planning Reform.

Christopher Pincher: As set out in Planning for the Future published at the Budget in March, we will be publishing a bold and ambitious planning White Paper which will aim to make the planning system clearer, more accessible and more certain for all users. The White Paper will be published later this year.

Local Government Finance: Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of changes in local authority (a) budgets and (b) funding formula during the covid-19 outbreak on the capacity of  Durham County Council to maintain services.

Mr Simon Clarke: We have now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this, Durham County Council has received £33.15 million.In total, the Government has committed over £27 billion to local areas to support councils and their communities. This also includes: £300 million to support the new test and trace service, £600 million to support providers through a new Infection Control Fund and £12.3 billion of support through the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grants.Alongside this funding, the Government has provided over £5 billion of cashflow support including the deferral of local authority payments of the Central Share of retained business rates, valued at £2.6 billion, as well as up-front payments of £1.8 billion of business rates reliefs and £850 million of social care grant.Following the allocation of the £1.6 billion in March, we reviewed the funding formula, by using monthly data and our conversations with councils to refine our assessment. To allocate the additional £1.6 billion in April, we used our latest and best assessment of the distribution of additional COVID-19 pressures.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local authority leaders on the implementation of regional covid-19 lockdowns.

Mr Simon Clarke: My Department has been working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a framework for the local management of further outbreaks. In addition, all upper tier local authorities have been asked to develop local outbreak control plans based on the existing statutory responsibilities of their Directors of Public Health. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside other relevant departments, is considering whether further powers are required for local authorities to manage future outbreaks in line with these plans.

Ministry of Defence

Nuclear Weapons: Transport

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times nuclear convoys travelled through Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in the most recent year for which data is available.

James Heappey: The Ministry of Defence keeps defence nuclear material convoy movements to the minimum necessary to maintain the operational effectiveness of the UK's nuclear deterrent. I am withholding information on the frequency and routes used by the convoys for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

USA: Riot Control Weapons

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds contracts for the supply of (a) tear gas, (b) rubber bullets and (c) riot shields to any companies based in the USA.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence has not entered into any contracts with any US based companies for the provision of tear gas, rubber bullets or riot shields.

USA: NATO

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what preliminary assessment he has made of the reduction in NATO's (a) potential for deterrence and (b) fighting capability as a result of result the implementation of President Trump's proposal to cut the total of US troops based in Germany by almost one-third; what discussions he had with his counterpart in the US Administration (i) before and (ii) after the announcement of that proposal; and if he will make a statement.

James Heappey: The UK Government does not comment on speculation. The United States and United Kingdom are strong partners and allies, with a uniquely close and active defence and security partnership. Ministers and officials regularly engage with the US on a wide range of security issues, both bilaterally and in NATO, including the deployment of US troops in Europe.

Ministry of Defence: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department had caring responsibilities in each of the last five years.

Johnny Mercer: The information is not held in the format requested.The Ministry of Defence recognises the unique challenges faced by people with caring responsibilities. In addition to flexible working arrangements, in 2018 the Department adopted the Civil Service Carer's Passport. This provides staff with the right to discuss and formally agree with their Line Manager a working pattern that considers both working and caring responsibilities. Serving military personnel have the option, where appropriate, to adopt flexible working arrangements, including for caring responsibilities, under the 'Flexible Service' arrangements introduced in January 2019.

Type 31 Frigates: Procurement

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the timescale of the Type 31e frigate project.

Jeremy Quin: The Department is working with Babcock and its suppliers to de-risk and mitigate any potential for impact to the Type 31 programme due to COVID-19. Most of the current key outputs for the programme are focused on design, infrastructure development and supply chain mobilisation, and work continues within the Government's safe working requirements.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the timescale to decommission nuclear submarines in Rosyth.

Jeremy Quin: We are working closely with our industry partners to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on our submarine programmes.  It is currently estimated that there is likely to be minimal impact on the overall timescale to dismantle the decommissioned nuclear submarines in Rosyth.

Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the bidding process for the Fleet Solid Support ships.

Jeremy Quin: The bidding process for the Fleet Solid Support ships has not yet begun. The Ministry of Defence is currently reviewing the programme's requirements, procurement strategy and schedule, and it is not possible to provide any update until this work has been completed.

Torture

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is Government policy that the (a) prohibition of torture is absolute and (b) obligation to prosecute torture is absolute.

Johnny Mercer: The Government is committed to its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). There is an absolute prohibition of torture under international law. The UNCAT requires each State Party to ensure that all acts of torture are listed as offences under its criminal law, however the prosecution of any crime is never automatic. The statutory presumption in the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill does not act as a pardon, amnesty or statute of limitations. Prosecutors will continue to have discretion on whether to prosecute for criminal offences, including torture, taking into account factors such as sufficiency of evidence and public interest.

Torture: Prosecutions

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the circumstances are in which a prosecutor is able to exercise their discretion not to prosecute an offence of torture.

Johnny Mercer: Prosecutors will continue to have discretion on whether to prosecute for criminal offences, including torture, on the basis of their assessment of the sufficiency of evidence and whether a prosecution would be in the public interest. The statutory presumption in the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is compliant with the UN Convention Against Torture, as it is a rebuttable presumption which leaves a prosecutor with discretion to prosecute where they consider it appropriate to do so. It does not act as a pardon, amnesty or statute of limitations.

Department for Work and Pensions

Welfare Tax Credits

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her Department’s policy to allow claimants to re-open a tax credit claim following an application for universal credit.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 05 May 2020



The Department has prioritised ensuring people have the information they need to understand the benefits and employment support they may be eligible for, including launching a new microsite within the Understanding Universal Credit website to help people navigate the range of support available and apply for it. Although neither HMRC nor DWP can advise tax credit claimants whether they should claim Universal Credit (UC), we have actively encouraged them to use benefit calculators to check their eligibility before applying and have explained that applying for UC will stop their tax credit claim. This includes adding information to HMRC’s Interactive Voice Response for people calling on the phone, as well as updating GOV.UK pages. We have used the DWP Twitter and Facebook channels to share messages for tax credit claimants, and used paid media to ensure we reach millions of people.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of universal credit applicants who (a) do not have access to a computer and (b) are self-isolating due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey from June 2018 found that 96 per cent of claimants have regular access to the internet. Of these, 9 in 10 claimants have access at home via a computer or through a mobile phone. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey For those claimants who are unable to access or use our digital services, there is assistance available to make and maintain their claim using the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. Running alongside the national Jobcentre offer from 1 April 2019 is the Citizens Advice Help to Claim which support claimants in making a Universal Credit claim. Help to Claim offers tailored, practical support to help people make their claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. It is widely available online, through a freephone number and face to face through local Citizens Advice services. Information on the number of Universal Credit applicants who are self-isolating due to Covid-19 is not available.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of suspending the Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Saving and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2018 for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Saving and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2018 introduced a package of positive measures announced in the Autumn Budget on 22 November 2017 and the SSWP’s oral statement the following day. It also introduced additional measures that are very technical by nature, which had been highlighted as part of the learning process of Universal Credit and ensured the legislation reflected the intended policy. We cannot see any merit in suspending these regulations. For example, we have no plans to re-introduce waiting days to Universal Credit during the Covid period, as this would reduce financial support for claimants and delay the initial payment, nor do we have any plans to suspend the Transition to UC Housing Payment (the two-week run on of Housing Benefit), as this would remove vital financial support for people moving to UC.

Universal Credit: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people  submitted claims for universal credit in Wales from 1 March to 12 May in (a) 2017, (b) 2018, (c) 2019 and (d) 2020.

Will Quince: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Information on new Universal Credit claims made in a) 2017, b) 2018 and c) 2019 is published online and can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html For figures for 2020, I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport East on 21 May 2020 to Question 39515

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional financial support her Department is providing to claimants of universal credit whose partners are in receipt of the state pension during the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: Couples where one member is receiving state pension and the other is of working age, who are not already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners, will be supported through Universal Credit where eligible. The Government has announced a suite of measures to support those facing the most financial disruption during the pandemic. This includes increasing the standard allowance in Universal Credit by £86.67 per month (equivalent to £20 per week), on top of the planned annual uprating. This means that claimants may be up to £1,040 per year better off, depending on their circumstances. We have also made a number of other changes such as increasing Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants; putting an average of £600 into people’s pockets.

Carer's Allowance: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing carers who are in receipt of carer’s allowance with additional financial support during the covid-19 outbreak in (a) Barnsley Central constituency and (b) the UK.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government recognises and appreciates the vital role played by unpaid carers now more than ever. In November 2019 there were more than 1,900 carers in the Barnsley Central constituency that were receiving Carer’s Allowance (CA) and in 2018/19 we spent approximately £6.7 million on CA there. We have focussed on ensuring carers do not inadvertently stop receiving CA because of changes to patterns of care during the current emergency. This includes allowing emotional support to count towards the 35 hours of care being provided by the carer as well as relaxing the rules around breaks in care. These changes aim to support carers whose role has, in many cases, become harder due to the need to self-isolate or shield the person they care for. The rate of CA was also increased in early April as part of the annual uprating process. Since 2010, the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £67.25 a week, meaning nearly an additional £700 a year for carers. We continue to support those carers in most need through additional amounts (premiums) in means-tested benefits and have also announced increases to the standard allowance in Universal Credit. Meaning claimants will be up to £1040 a year better off, which some carers receiving Universal Credit will benefit from.

Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new applications for universal credit there were in each constituency since 1 March 2020.

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new applications there were for universal credit by households with children in each constituency since 1 March 2020.

Will Quince: Statistics for Universal Credit claims by postcode area, and starts by postcode area and Jobcentre Plus office can be found on Stat-Xplore:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ The available information on the number of households with children on Universal Credit, by parliamentary constituency, is published and can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Members: Correspondence

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to the letter of 31 March 2020 from the hon. Member for Glasgow East, reference DL5255.

Will Quince: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 June 2020.

Children: Maintenance

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,  with reference to child maintenance services, what proportion of payments made to parents with care are currently being made at the assessed level; and what the level of arrears is as a proportion of the monthly amount due.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the levels of (a) staff and (b) resources allocated to child maintenance payments has changed since the covid-19 lockdown began.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to uprate the benefit cap to ensure that universal credit claimants are not lifted above the cap by the Government’s decision to increase universal credit by £20 a week for a year.

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the benefit cap has not been raised in line with recent increases in universal credit payments.

Mims Davies: There are currently no plans to change the benefit cap. The Benefit Cap restores fairness between those receiving out-of-work benefits and taxpayers.

Carer's Allowance

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of carer’s allowance in each region of the UK by (a) ethnicity and (b) gender in (i) 2020 and (ii) each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The requested information is not available for (a) ethnicity as it is not routinely recorded for claimants of Carer's Allowance. The number of people receiving Carer’s Allowance in each region of Great Britain broken down by (b) gender is shown in the below table. The latest data available is as at November 2019. To be aware Carer’s Allowance was devolved to Scotland in September 2018. Nov-15 Nov-16 Nov-17 Nov-18 Nov-19  MaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleEngland178,511474,335186,277496,156189,470515,027192,480534,645199,334551,491Wales14,77533,42315,15534,86415,63336,26715,95437,68616,49938,730Scotland21,16245,90122,18548,39722,83350,10823,37252,06824,32053,522North East14,20931,51415,02933,36615,58934,83715,85636,42316,66137,823North West33,12474,98534,19978,05034,74881,06135,14983,75736,11086,049Yorkshire &the Humber21,70552,40623,05055,81423,61858,22524,01360,84724,89962,999East Midlands15,84841,79216,60843,62016,87945,40517,34847,46318,07649,241West Midlands22,30358,83722,97961,11823,11263,39023,53465,82724,73468,087East of England15,11546,07815,82948,09915,95649,86516,18251,77116,66053,321London22,28068,81023,51371,84023,82173,93024,25676,01125,10278,139South East19,63260,51320,26063,16520,67565,76420,78468,23821,40970,382South West14,30239,40114,80941,09015,07142,54915,35644,31015,67845,459TOTAL214,449553,665223,614579,418227,935601,403231,809624,399240,148643,743 The information requested on the number of individuals in receipt of Carer’s Allowance is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk Guidance for users is available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Statutory Sick Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of employees who do not qualify for statutory sick pay as a result of their pay being below the lower earnings limit.

Justin Tomlinson: To be eligible for SSP, earnings over the 8 week qualifying period must be at or above the National Insurance Lower Earnings Limit (LEL), currently £120 per week. The consultation “Health is Everyone’s Business” stated that widening eligibility for SSP would extend SSP protection to an estimated 2 million more employees.

Statutory Sick Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employees with children earn less than the lower earnings limit for statutory sick pay.

Justin Tomlinson: The requested information concerning the number of employees with children who earn less than the lower earnings limit is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Statutory Sick Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate the Government has made of the potential cost to the public purse of removing the lower earnings limit for qualification for statutory sick pay.

Justin Tomlinson: The consultation “Health is Everyone’s Business” (CP 134, published July 2019) sought views on the recommendation of the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices to extend Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to include those earning below the lower earnings limit. On its own, such a measure would present no direct cost to the exchequer as SSP is paid by employers. There may be an indirect cost to the government as an employer but this cannot be robustly estimated.

Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect that the level of the rate of statutory sick pay will have on the number of employees who choose to self-isolate during the covid-19 outbreak as a result of an instruction through the NHS' test and trace system.

Justin Tomlinson: A high level of compliance with the restrictions introduced to combat covid-19 has led to the outbreak being brought under control. This Government has a strong safety net that helps people who are facing hardship and are unable to support themselves financially. We have taken steps to strengthen that safety net so that people are supported to do the right thing. We have extended eligibility for SSP, and made sure it is payable from day 1 – rather than day 4 – for employees affected by covid-19. Employers can choose to pay more than SSP and many do - 60% of employees receive more than the statutory minimum. SSP is just part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer to support people in times of need. Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick and they require further financial support they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on individual circumstances. We have ensured that benefits are easily accessible and more supportive for those who need to make a claim.

*No heading*

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to introduce employment strategies in response to covid-19 related unemployment.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: Coronavirus

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on financial support for people living in multi-generational households who may be unable to return to work as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have been sanctioned since 1 March 2020 in (a) the North West, (b) Liverpool City Region, (c) Wirral and (d) Wallasey.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the average time it takes for the Child Maintenance Service to respond to reports that an ex-partner of a claimant has stopped paying child maintenance.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect on individuals' personal finances of waiting times of up to 12 weeks for the Child Maintenance Service to respond to reports that an ex-partner of a claimant has stopped paying child maintenance.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to reinstate a Child Maintenance Service telephone service for people to report their ex-partner who has stopped paying child maintenance.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Assessments

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are waiting for an assessment for (a) personal independence payments, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) the limited capability for work component of universal credit as at 15 June 2020.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Assessments

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many assessments for (a) personal independence payments, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) the limited capability for work component of universal credit were scheduled to take place after 1 March 2020; and how many of those assessments have taken place.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Flood Control: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will increase spending on flood defences in line with the recommendations of the 2007 Pitt Review.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of allocation of Government funding for flood defences since 2007; if he will make a comparative assessment of the allocation of such funding and the prevalence of flooding incidents in each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: The Government is currently investing £2.6 billion between 2015-2021 to deliver more than 1,000 flood defence projects to better protect 300,000 homes by 2021. Overall funding for flood defences nationally has increased steadily in real terms since 2005/06, from an annual average of £671 million between 2005/06 and 2009/10 to an annual average of £821 million for the period 2014/15 to 2018/19.This is on top of £1 billion to maintain flood defence assets between 2015 and 2020. This is an increase in real terms when compared to the average of £812 million over the previous five years. At the Budget in March, it was confirmed that Government will double the amount it invests in the flood and coastal defence programme in England to £5.2 billion over six years from 2021, better protecting a further 336,000 properties, including 290,000 homes. Additional funding of £200 million will help over 25 local areas to take forward wider innovative actions that improve their resilience to flooding and coastal erosion. Defra’s Flood and Coastal Resilience Partnership Funding policy was introduced in 2011 following the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt’s review of widespread flooding in 2007. It was a move away from the previous approach whereby the Government would fully fund some schemes but once that money was committed no further schemes were funded. On 17 April 2020, Defra and the EA announced and published an update to the Partnership Funding Policy, which comprised 4 technical changes to this policy, including an intention to launch a consultation later this year (2020) on floods funding policy to gather insights from across the country. These views will help to further develop our floods funding vision for the future.

Carbon Emissions

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government's target of the UK achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including the carbon emissions of imported products in the calculation of the UK's carbon emissions.

Rebecca Pow: Defra produces annual estimates of the UK’s carbon footprint. The latest data was published on 4 May 2020: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-carbon-footprint. These are consumption-based emissions and include the emissions embedded in imported products. However, consumption emissions are officially categorised as “experimental statistics” because of inherent uncertainties in the estimates produced. The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions statistics used for the purposes of measuring progress against the net zero target are calculated in line with the standard international accounting approach for measuring emissions as established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Fly-tipping

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to strengthen local authority powers on tackling fly tipping from (a) members of the public and (b) commercial operators.

Rebecca Pow: Fly-tipping is unacceptable and illegal wherever it occurs. It blights local communities and the environment and is an issue we are committed to tackling. We have recently provided local authorities with enhanced enforcement powers to tackle fly-tipping. Since January 2019 local authorities have been able to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) of up to £400 to householders who fail in their duty of care and give their waste to fly-tippers. We had previously given local authorities the power to issue FPNs to those who were caught fly-tipping. We have also given local authorities, that are also waste collection authorities, the power to search and or seize vehicles that they suspect have been involved, are involved or are about to be involved in fly-tipping and other waste crimes. Going forward, we are seeking powers in the Environment Bill to ensure agencies and authorities can work more effectively to combat waste crime through better access to evidence and improved powers of entry. In addition to enhancing enforcement powers, we committed in the Resources and Waste Strategy (RWS) to develop a fly-tipping toolkit to help local authorities and others work in partnership to tackle fly-tipping. The RWS is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/resources-andwaste-strategy-for-england.

Agricultural Shows: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what joint working officials in his Department are undertaking with officials in the (a) Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and (b) Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on providing financial support for agricultural and country shows.

Rebecca Pow: We regularly engage with other departments across Government in supporting the interests of rural business. The Government has made available a full range of support measures to businesses during these unprecedented times, including the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and Bounce Back Loans. These schemes are available to businesses based in rural areas.

Waste Disposal: Applications

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average length of time was for the Environment Agency to process a waste permit application from point of first application to final determination in each of the last two years; and what proportion of waste permit applications took longer than six months to process.

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of waste permit applications have taken longer than 12 months to process from point of first application to final determination in each of the last two years.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency prepares data for reports by Financial Year and this response includes information between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2020. Cumulatively, over the last two years, 6.3% (166 of 2,639) of waste permit applications took longer than 12 months to determine. Between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, 6.5% (85 of 1,308) of waste permit applications took longer than 12 months to determine. Between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, 6.1% (81 of 1,331) of waste permit applications took longer than 12 months to determine. Cumulatively, over the last two years the average length of time taken to determine a waste permit application is 129 days. This is broken down by reporting year as follows: Between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 it was 131 days. Between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020 it was 128 days. Cumulatively, over the last two years 21.2% (560 of 2,639) of waste permit applications took longer than six months to determine. This is broken down by reporting year as follows. Between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, 21.9% (287 of 1,308) of waste permit applications took longer than six months to determine. Between 1 April 2019 and 3 March 2020, 20.5% (273 of 1,331) of waste permit applications took longer than six months to determine.

Waste Disposal: Applications

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) length of potential delays in processing waste permit applications at the Environment Agency and (b) potential effect of those delays on investment in new waste processing facilities.

Rebecca Pow: No assessment has been made of potential delays in processing waste permit applications at the Environment Agency or the potential effect of those delays on investment in new waste processing facilities. Each application is considered on its own merit and discussed with the individual applicant, and it is important they are assessed thoroughly.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the additional £63 million funding for the Welfare Assistance Fund announced at Prime Minister’s Questions on 10 June 2020 is being funded; when it will become available; and for how long that funding will be made available.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much of the additional £63 million funding for the Welfare Assistance Fund announced at Prime Minister’s Questions on 10 June 2020 will be made available to local authorities in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the announcement by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2020 of a £63 million welfare assistance fund in response to the covid-19 outbreak, how her Department plans to distribute that fund among local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the announcement by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2020 of a £63 million welfare assistance fund in response to the covid-19 outbreak, whether people who have no recourse to public funds will be eligible for that fund in each local authority; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis: To support those people who are facing severe financial difficulties during this crisis, the Government has announced further funding of £63 million to be given to and disbursed by local authorities in England. This will ensure that the most vulnerable families can afford food and other essentials. This funding will sit alongside the £6.5 billion of extra support the Government is providing through the benefits system to protect the most vulnerable throughout this crisis.The additional £63 million will be for local authorities to spend at their discretion and at the pace which suits the needs of their community. The money will be distributed through a Section 31 grant. Funding arrangements will be finalised shortly. Most local authorities already operate these schemes and understand the legal context within which they operate, including entitlement for those with no recourse to public funds.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the  £63 million of local welfare assistance to be used by local authorities announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2020 , what his timescale is for (a) publishing guidance on use of that funding and (b) making that funding available.

Victoria Prentis: Defra will distribute the funding directly to local authorities to ensure they can support people facing severe financial difficulty who may be struggling to afford food and other necessities. Local authorities set the criteria for eligibility for welfare assistance schemes. We recognise that local authorities have set up different structures and schemes to support their communities during COVID-19 according to local need. This funding is a one-off boost to local authorities in recognition of the fact that some people in our communities are facing sudden and severe financial difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic is an extraordinary event and it is right that we take extraordinary measures in response to it.

Home Office

UK Border Force: Protective Clothing

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the supply of personal protective equipment for UK Border Force staff.

Chris Philp: Border Force has a command structure and is actively working with Regional Teams and the National Operations HQ, to determine PPE needs for frontline and operational support staff, and to manage stock levels. Demand for PPE has increased so we are sourcing it through our established suppliers and supplementing with additional external suppliers to meet the demand.

Visas: Turkey

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people subject to the ECAA-2 Visa will have access to the (a) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, (b) Small Business Grant Fund and (c) Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

Kevin Foster: The Government is committed to ensuring people are not unfairly impacted in terms of their immigration status as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. To this end, an individual who holds valid leave under the Turkish EC Association Agreement as a business person can benefit from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Small Business Grant Fund and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria for those schemes.

Deportation: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to pursue deportation proceedings during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Removals of foreign national offenders and those who have no lawful basis to stay in the UK are still taking place where routes are available, and Immigration Enforcement are following the latest guidance from Public Health England.

Police: Demonstrations

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with representatives from the National Police Chiefs Council on (a) guidance for policing protests while the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 are in force and (b) arresting protesters under those regulations.

Kit Malthouse: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis. We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover. Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government. The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/Health-Protection-Guidelines.aspx. Chief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published athttps://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-deathThe footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis.We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover.Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government.The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/understanding-the-law/Pages/default.aspx Chief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published at https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-death.

Kit Malthouse: The footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis. We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover. Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government. The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/Health-Protection-Guidelines.aspx. Chief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published athttps://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-deathThe footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis.We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover.Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government.The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/understanding-the-law/Pages/default.aspx Chief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published at https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-death.

Police: Powers

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effect of (a) Regulation 7 of the Coronavirus Regulations 2020 and (b) the police use of powers under those regulations at recent protests on people's ability to exercise their right to protest under articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Kit Malthouse: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis. We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover. Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government. The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/Health-Protection-Guidelines.aspx. Chief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published athttps://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-death The footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis.We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover.Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government.The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/understanding-the-law/Pages/default.aspxChief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published at https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-death.

Kit Malthouse: The footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis. We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover. Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government. The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/Health-Protection-Guidelines.aspx. Chief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published athttps://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-death The footage of George Floyd’s death is deeply upsetting and we appreciate the strength of feeling behind the planned #BlackLivesMatter protests, but it is vital to remember that we are still in the midst of a public health crisis.We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover.Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government.The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/understanding-the-law/Pages/default.aspxChief constables from forces across the country, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Chief Executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association made a statement following the death of George Floyd, which is published at https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/uk-police-stand-with-those-appalled-by-george-floyd-death.

Local Government: Licensing

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to permit local authorities to allow reimbursement of fees for the annual premises licence; and what guidance the Government has issued to local authorities on the reimbursement or reduction of those fees during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kit Malthouse: Kit Malthouse, the Minister for Crime and Policing, wrote to the chairs of the licensing committees on 8 April about issues arising from the coronavirus outbreak. He set out an expectation that where a business was unable to pay the charge for reasons related to coronavirus then the licensing authority should exercise its discretion to delay suspending the licence. This would allow the business to continue selling alcohol until it was able to pay.

Barbecues: Fire and Rescue Services

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, how many call outs the fire service has received for incidents related to barbecues in each of the last ten years, broken down by fire authority.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office publishes figures on accidental primary fires started by barbecues at a national level in table FIRE0605, available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables#cause-of-fire. The data is available from 2010/11 to 2018/19 but is not broken down by fire and rescue service. In 2018/19, there were 315 accidental primary fires started by barbecues in England. Of these, 112 were dwelling fires, 97 in other buildings, 90 outdoors and 16 road vehicles.

Airports: Scotland

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have arrived at Scottish airports from international destinations since 8 June 2020 to date.

Chris Philp: Border Force does not release location specific statistics on the arrival of passengers to an individual airport.However on 28 May 2020, the Home Office published additional statistics relating to Covid-19 and the immigration system here. This contains information on the impact of COVID-19 on passenger arrivals and includes data on the number of passengers arriving in the UK by air routes only.The Home Office is due to publish the next quarterly Immigration Statistics on 27 August 2020.

Wales Office

Employment: Wales

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on support for people in Wales whose employment has been adversely affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Simon Hart: The Government has taken unprecedented measures UK-wide to support the economy during these difficult times. This includes injecting over £6.5bn into the welfare system, for example by increasing the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element by £20 a week. The Government has also implemented a package of measures to support businesses and their employees through the covid-19 outbreak, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme. In Wales, 316,000 jobs have been supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and 102,000 self-employed have claimed the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

Tourism: Wales

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to work more closely with (a) Shrewsbury and (b) other border towns and communities to help encourage tourism after the covid-19 outbreak.

Simon Hart: I continue to hold discussions with the First Minister on the reopening of Wales’ tourism industry to ensure that Wales is well placed to attract visitors whilst respecting social distancing and to make the most of the summer season. Based on the scientific evidence available, the UK Government has set out a clear plan on how we will rebuild the UK for a world with Covid-19 whilst respecting devolved decision making. Subject to scientific advice, next month will see the partial reopening of some tourist accommodation in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I have written to the First Minister to urge that Wales is not left behind.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Coronavirus

Helen Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has provided to (a) cleaning, (b) catering and (c) other companies who provide services to the civil service on (i) personal protective equipment and (ii) sick pay during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chloe Smith: I apologise for the delay in responding, but I can confirm that departments, including the Cabinet Office, continue to liaise regularly with their suppliers as they respond to the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19.In respect of personal protective equipment it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that the latest guidance as published by the appropriate Public Health body is followed. The latest guidance can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres. Cabinet Office stands ready to support companies with any questions or assist with difficulties regarding the guidance.The Cabinet Office has issued Procurement Policy Note 02/20 to provide guidance for suppliers. This outlines the approach that contracting authorities should adopt. In the Cabinet Office this has meant continuing to guarantee payments to service providers when delivery is impacted by Covid-19 resource shortages and paying employees that are absent due to presentation of Covid-19 symptoms or the need to be shielded or self-isolated.

Cabinet Office: Pay

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average annual salary was for (a) BAME and (b) non-BAME employees in his Department in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: Further to the answer given to PQ 18715 on 21 February 2020, some general data on civil service pay broken down by declared ethnicity is available online at https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/public-sector-pay/civil-service-pay/latest.

Faculty: Contracts

Helen Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) scope and (b) remit of the Government's contract with Faculty is to deliver services related to the covid-19 pandemic.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQs 54981 and 54931 on 9 June 2020.

Companies: European Union

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed by companies registered in the EU in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, and (c) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 135.8 KB)

Self-employed: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are registered as self-employed in (a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 63.78 KB)

Zero Hours Contracts: Scotland

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people under the age of 25 in (a) Scotland and (b) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts; how many of those people are (a) aged between 16 and 24-years old and (b) women.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 60.42 KB)

Business: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many small and medium-sized businesses in Linlithgow and East Falkirk placed a bid for a public contract in the last five years.

Chloe Smith: This information is not held centrally.

Life Expectancy: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what life expectancy is for (a) men and (b) women in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 146.92 KB)

Ministerial Responsibility

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 8 June 2020 to Question 54223 on Ministerial Responsibility, of 29 May 2020 to Question 48589 on Universal Credit: Coronavirus and of 11 May to Question 43737 on Ministerial Responsibility, and with reference to the oral contribution of 6 May 2020 of the Leader of the House, Official Report, column 583, what communication he has had with the Cabinet Secretary on the non-publication of that document since the 2019 general election.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 3030 to Question 54223 on Ministerial Responsibility, the Answer of 2 May 2020 to Question 48583 the Answer of 11 May 2020 to Question 43737 and with reference to the oral contribution of 6 May 2020 of the Leader of the House, Official Report, column 583, on Business Statement, for what reason he has not published the directory of ministerial contacts.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 8 June 2020 to Question 54223 and of 29 May 2020 to Question 48589 on Ministerial Responsibility, and with reference to the oral contribution of 6 May 2020 of the Leader of the House, Official Report, column 583, what investigations he has made to establish why the Department has not published that document in a timely manner.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 8 June 2020 to Question 54223  and of 29 May to Question 48589 and of 11 May 2020 to Question 43737 on Ministerial Responsibilities, and with reference to the oral contribution of 6 May 2020 of the Leader of the House, Official Report, column 583, for what reason that document has not been published despite (a) six months having elapsed since the general election and (b) more than one month having elapsed since the first written question in relation to republishing that document.

Chloe Smith: Further to the answer given to PQ 43737 on 11 May 2020, it is taking longer than usual to compile a new List of Ministerial Responsibilities document including as a result of the challenges of Covid-19. An update will be published in due course.

Department for International Trade

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she plans to review UK exports of (a) tear gas and (b) rubber bullets to the US.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will suspend export of (a) rubber bullets and (b) tear gas to the US.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will suspend export of (a) rubber bullets and (b) tear gas to the US.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she plans to pause and review her policy on UK arms and security equipment exports to the US for potential use in policing operations involving tear gas and rubber bullets.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will (a) suspend exports of tear gas, rubber bullets and riot shields to the US in response to the recent steps taken by police against protestors and (ii) launch an investigation into whether British weapons were used by the US police against protestors; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much (a) tear gas irritant ammunition, (b) tear gas riot control agents, (c) rubber bullets, and (d) riot shields were exported to the United States in the last year; and what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of those exports being used in protests against police brutality in that country.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) tear gas, (b) riot shields and (c) rubber bullets produced in and sold by companies based in the UK to law enforcement agencies in the US are not used against peaceful civilian protesters in that country.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential future granting or withholding of export licences in relation to crowd and riot control equipment manufactured in the UK and destined for the US; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government has powers to attach conditions to the granting of export licenses, in relation to sale and export of riot and crowd control equipment to the US and other countries which if not met could result in a license being cancelled; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently nine eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Three Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Coronavirus: Travel Information

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans her Department has to explore UK labelling approaches that could be used to promote the standards of agricultural import produce.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: HM Government is committed to world-class food standards. We will consider the full range of measures available to maintain our current levels of protection for consumers and the environment – and enhance consumer choice, including the possibility of labelling, where appropriate. In doing so, we will respect our WTO obligations to make sure that any technical regulations do not create unnecessary obstacles to international trade. British food regulators, such as the Food Standards Agency, will continue to make sure that all food imports comply with British standards.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will immediately suspend the export of (a) tear gas, (b) rubber bullets and (c) riot shields to the United States, following the murder of George Floyd.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Overseas Trade: Israel

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether compliance with the technical arrangements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement is replicated in the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement which will enter into force at the end of the transition period.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: All committee decisions made within the framework of the European Union-Israel Association Agreement were carried across into the United Kingdom-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, which will enter into force after the end of the Transition Period on 1st January 2021.

Riot Control Weapons: USA

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish (a) a list of all current export licenses to the US of riot control projectiles and equipment including (i) who has purchased those items and (ii) their declared purpose; and if she will (A) suspend all existing licenses and (B) halt any new licenses for the export of riot control projectiles and equipment to the US if it is determined that such equipment is being used in the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria, my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require. There are currently eight extant licences that may be linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences (‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of anti-riot gear. Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official statistics on GOV.UK – at: gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Department for International Trade: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff in her Department had caring responsibilities in each of the last five years.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade is committed to supporting those members of our workforce with caring responsibilities. Building a diverse and inclusive departmentcontinues to be a key priority. For carers specifically we adopted the Civil Service Carers Passport and aligned our policies to the Civil Service Carers Charter developed by Cabinet Office. We also have policies to support flexible working and provide access to special leave and career breaks. All employees have access to our Employee Assistance Programme and we have active employee networks for carers and parents. We do not hold data centrally on how many staff in the department have a specific caring responsibility as arrangements are managed locally between the individuals and their line manager.

Ferries

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to P&O Ferries' proposed 1,100 redundancies, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the protection of strategically vital roll-on roll-off ferry services from UK ports.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The Rt. Hon Secretary of State has had frequent engagement with her cabinet colleagues with regards to the economic response to Covid-19.

Trade Agreements: Higher Education

Alicia Kearns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the export of UK higher education is a priority sector in future trade negotiations; and whether (a) research collaboration and (b) student exchanges will be included in those negotiations.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The Department for International Trade (DIT) recognises that higher education is a significant export for the United Kingdom, bringing value in the collaboration and partnerships they foster, and helping to forge deep global relationships. These underpin opportunities for the United Kingdom and our international partners to develop, trade and work together. HM Government is exploring to what extent our trade negotiations could support trade in education services. This may include collaboration in science, research and innovation as appropriate. DIT will continue to work across government and with other interested parties to make sure our trade negotiations represent the sector’s interests.

Chile: Arms Trade

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government invited representatives of the Republic of Chile to an arms and surveillance fair in Farnborough in March 2020.

Graham Stuart: Representatives of the Republic of Chile were invited to the Home Office Security and Policing 2020 event, at Farnborough in March 2020, by the Department for International Trade’s Defence and Security Organisation. They did not attend.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Wildlife Parks and Zoos: Social Distancing

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of re-opening zoos and safari parks with appropriate social distancing measures.

Nigel Huddleston: As announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June, outdoor areas of zoos and safari parks will be allowed to reopen from 15 June, subject to appropriate social distancing measures being in place. This includes keeping indoor exhibitions, such as reptile houses and those in aquariums, closed, and ensuring other amenities like cafes offer takeaway services only. The move follows close work by the Government with the zoo industry to ensure visitor numbers can be managed and safeguards are put in place. The decision to relax restrictions on these select outdoor attractions is part of the Government’s careful approach to easing the lockdown in phases, guided by the advice of scientific and medical experts and the fact the risk of transmission is much lower outdoors. Officials in the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs continue to meet weekly with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and with the CEOs of the largest charitable zoos and aquariums in England, providing a forum to monitor concerns and seek insights from key sector representatives on current issues.

Museums and Galleries: Tax Allowances

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending museums and galleries tax relief to remove the limitations on selling exhibitions.

Caroline Dinenage: The objective of the Museums and Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief is to encourage the creation of more and higher quality permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions, as well as to support touring of the best exhibitions across the country and abroad, raising the UK’s profile internationally.The Relief is designed for organisations which display works of historic, scientific, artistic or cultural interest.The Government continues to monitor the take-up and impact of the relief on the museums sector and the public purse, particularly with respect to the sunset clause in the relief which means it is due to come to an end in March 2022.

National Citizens Service Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many youth workers contracted by the NCS programme have been furloughed.

Mr John Whittingdale: By April 2020, an estimated 64.6 full-time equivalent youth workers contracted by the NCS network have been furloughed. This figure is based on self-reported data from NCS Providers to the NCS Trust.

Football: Finance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to allocate £550 million to grassroots football.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government has committed to investing an additional £550m into grassroots football facilities over the next 10 years. This will bring the government’s total investment over that period to £730m, and will support the bid for the 2030 Men’s FIFA Football World Cup. The FA has produced, in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and DCMS, the 'National Football Facilities Strategy' (NFSS), which is a coherent overarching shared strategy for capital investment in football over the next ten years. As part of the NFFS, a 'Local Football Facilities Plan' is being produced for every Local Authority across the country to create a tailored local investment plan.

Chatham Dockyard: Coronavirus

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 54086 on Chatham Dockyard: Coronavirus, if it will issue the Trust with a letter of comfort that guarantees its limited reserves position to assist cash flow management and credit status along similar lines to that issued to the Historic Royal Palaces.

Nigel Huddleston: DCMS is in close contact with the senior team at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust about the challenging situation the Trust is facing. We are in active conversations to explore what support might be available.

Historic Royal Palaces: Pensions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Historic Royal Palaces and (b) their staff and trades union representatives on their decision to cut employer pension contributions to 6.5 per cent.

Nigel Huddleston: The Secretary of State has had no specific discussions with Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) or their staff and trades union representatives on cuts to employer pension contributions. HRP has responsibility for the recruitment, remuneration, development, retention and motivation of its own staff.

Historic Royal Palace: Coronavirus

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives from trade unions on proposals for reopening (a) Hampton Court Palace, (b) Hillsborough Castle and (c) other Historic Royal Palaces sites on 16 June 2020 following the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will publish the risk assessments undertaken at those sites.

Nigel Huddleston: DCMS officials have had no such discussions with representatives of trade unions on Historic Royal Palaces' (HRP) proposals for the reopening of the specific sites in their care, nor are DCMS officials in possession of the risk assessments referred to. Trade Union representatives have, however, been attending the Heritage Working Group which has discussed guidance for safe reopening within the heritage sector. Whether HRP can safely reopen is a matter for HRP to consider in-line with government and Public Health England guidelines.

Historic Royal Palaces: Pensions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with representatives from Historic Royal Palaces on reinstating employer pension contributions at the level they were prior to the covid-19 outbreak; and if his Department will take steps to compensate workers affected by reductions in employer pension contributions introduced by that organisation in June 2020.

Nigel Huddleston: The Secretary of State has had no such discussions with HRP on reinstating pension contributions in respect of HRP’s staff, which is a matter for HRP to consider in consultation with their staff, as appropriate, in-line with the affordability of any such measures and their obligations as employers.

Charities: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that funding from the charity relief package announced in April 2020 is reaching those that most need it.

Mr John Whittingdale: The government has pledged £750 million to meet the needs of vulnerable groups through targeted support for voluntary and community sector organisations on the frontline of the Covid response. This includes £360m distributed through government departments and £200m for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, being delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund. A diverse advisory panel has been set up to assist in the distribution process for the fund. The government has also unlocked a further £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts, which will be distributed to organisations to support urgent work for groups in need to tackle youth unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances. We have published clear and comprehensive guidance on the £750 million, plus other sources of support, athttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-support-for-voluntary-community-and-social-enterprise-vcse-organisations-to-respond-to-coronavirus-covid-19. The VCSE Support Package builds on the significant package of support available across sectors, including the Job Retention Scheme.

Dance and Theatre: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has received representations from representatives of (a) dancing schools, (b) the Royal Shakespeare Company and (c) other stage-based entertainment bodies on how those bodies can reopen and operate in conformity with social distancing rules; whether he has made an assessment of the practicability of those proposals; and what support his Department provides to those bodies to ensure that they will not cease to exist before their reopening is permitted by the Government.

Caroline Dinenage: In order to ensure appropriate support and guidance is given to the cultural sector, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which include extensive membership from across the artistic and creative industries sectors. The focus of these groups’ work is on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input. These groups specifically include representatives for dance and stage based entertainment, all of whom are being consulted extensively on how the sector can reopen and operate under social distancing. Full details of the Taskforce can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-announces-cultural-renewal-taskforce and the Entertainment and Events Working Group can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members. The Secretary of State, my fellow Ministers and DCMS officials continue to consult the creative and cultural sectors extensively to ensure they understand fully the potential impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector. DCMS officials and ministers have also held regular calls with representatives from across the arts and cultural sector and these have included representatives from the Royal Shakespeare Company and a number of dance schools and representatives including Sadler’s Wells and Northern Ballet. The Secretary of State and DCMS are committed to supporting the cultural sector through this pandemic and getting the curtain up at venues across the country as soon as it is safe to do so. In addition to the unprecedented financial measures the Government has announced DCMS has also worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England, made possible by Government funding.

Charities: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ringfencing funding from the Government's charity support package for charities and organisations working with communities that are disproportionately affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr John Whittingdale: The government has pledged £750 million to meet the needs of vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by Covid-19 through targeted support for voluntary and community sector organisations. A diverse advisory panel has been set up to assist in the distribution process for the fund. DCMS and the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF - our distribution partners for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund) are working with a number of organisations to improve the reach of the Coronavirus Community Support Fund for organisations disproportionately affected. The government has unlocked a further £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts, which will be distributed to organisations to support urgent work for groups in need to tackle youth unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Estate: Art Works

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether art depicting (a) former slave owners and (b) people involved in the slave trade is on display on the Parliamentary Estate.

Pete Wishart: The Parliamentary Art Collection has been built up by Members over the past 150 years. It documents the history and work of Parliament up to the present day, and includes portraits, satirical prints and group portraits featuring 17th, 18th and 19th century parliamentarians who, as predominately wealthy landowners and businessmen, were often directly involved in, and profited from, slavery and the slave trade, or came from families who had.There is no definitive listing of individual MPs with close connections to the trade, but they will be numerous, and some will be included in artworks on display in Parliament. The intention of the artworks is not to venerate people who have supported and committed acts of atrocity, but to truthfully reflect the history of Parliament, our democracy and the people who played a part in it. In 2007 Parliament held a large public exhibition in Westminster Hall ‘Abolition, Parliament and the People’ to reflect on its own role in significantly shaping the progress and development of the transatlantic slave system through legislation, before responding to one of the first and most successful public campaigns which called for the abolition of the trade and then slavery itself. The 1807 Act of Parliament to abolish the British slave trade was followed in 1833 with the Slavery Abolition Act.The Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art and the Lord Speaker’s Advisory Panel on Works of Art supported by the curatorial team are actively working to improve the diversity of the art collection, both in terms of the people portrayed and the artists commissioned, to ensure that the Collection reflects and celebrates the diversity of all who contribute to Parliament. The most recent example is the bust of Olaudah Equiano, a former enslaved African and abolitionist, which is currently on display in Portcullis House.

Leader of the House

Deferred Divisions: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Leader of the House, if he will make it his policy to utilise the e-voting system previously used by hon. Members during hybrid proceedings for the process of holding deferred divisions; what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the use of paper for deferred divisions on the transmission of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: The introduction of remote voting dealt with the particular circumstances we faced at the time. It was only ever agreed as a temporary measure during an emergency, and any long term changes should be a decision for the House following an inquiry by the Procedure Committee. In the context of a physical return of Parliament, not returning to physical voting would be a significant anomaly and I welcome the House’s agreement to the Government’s approach. The Government is working closely with the Speaker and House Authorities on how voting works in practice, whether that is for live or deferred divisions. I hope I can assure the Hon. Lady that the House authorities are completing this work in consultation with Public Health England to ensure it is in line with public health advice.

Women and Equalities

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Alicia Kearns: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of (a) the UK Council of Psychotherapy Conversion Therapy Consensus Statement, published in June 2014, and (b) the decisions of the governments of (i) Germany, with reference to the BBC News article of 8 May 2020 entitled Germany passes law banning gay conversion therapy for minors, and (ii) Canada, with reference to amendments by the Canadian Government to the Criminal Code of Canada, to ban conversion therapy; and what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on bringing forward legislative proposals to ban practice of that therapy.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government takes this issue very seriously and fundamentally disagrees with attempts to forcibly change someone’s sexuality. I am working with colleagues across Government on this issue, and we will outline plans to end its practice in due course.As part of ongoing engagement with healthcare stakeholders and other Government Departments, GEO officials have been reviewing all relevant statements, including the 2014 statement and more recent developments, in order to inform thinking around future proposals.We are aware of the developments that have been made in Germany, Canada and elsewhere. Officials are in discussion with international policy counterparts, in order to fully understand the detail around their measures, and to inform the UK’s next steps.

Ethnic Groups: Coronavirus

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the report published by Public Health England on 2 June 2020 entitled COVID-19: review of disparities in risks and outcomes, what cross-departmental steps the Government plans to take to reduce the disproportionate effect of the covid-19 outbreak on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Kemi Badenoch: As Minister for Equalities, I will be working with the Race Disparity Unit and the Department for Health and Social Care to carry forward work to identify and fill the gaps in PHE’s review; and work across government to take appropriate steps to mitigate disparities identified. The terms of reference for this work, which include quarterly updates to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on progress, were published on GOV.UK on 4 June.